A big man has no time really to do anything but just sit and be big.
Interpretation
True greatness involves being present and embodying one's success rather than being overly busy with trivial tasks.
F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that a truly successful person, or a 'big man', should focus on embodying their stature and presence rather than getting caught up in the hustle of daily activities. This reflects the idea that genuine accomplishment comes from being authentic and secure in oneβs identity, rather than being preoccupied with the tasks that can distract from what truly matters.
In practice
In a speech about leadership, I might say, 'As Fitzgerald reminds us, a big man has no time but to sit and be big, highlighting the importance of presence in our roles.'
Don't be so anxious about it,' she laughed. 'I'm not used to being loved. I wouldn't know what to do; I never got the trick of it.' She looked down at him, shy and fatigued. 'So here we are. I told you years ago that I had the makings of Cinderella.' He took her hand; she drew it back instinctively and then replaced it in his. 'Beg your pardon. Not even used to being touched. But I'm not afraid of you, if you stay quiet and don't move suddenly.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
It was about then [1920] that I wrote a line which certain people will not let me forget: "She was a faded but still lovely woman of twenty-seven."
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
But you can love more than just one person, can't you?
A sudden gust of rain blew over them and then another - as if small liquid clouds were bouncing along the land. Lightning entered the sea far off and the air blew full of crackling thunder. The table cloths blew around the pillars. They blew and blew and blew. The flags twisted around the red chairs like live things, the banners were ragged, the corners of the table tore off through the burbling billowing ends of the cloths.
Existence is the privilege of effort, and when that privilege is met like a man, opportunities to succeed along the line of your aptitude will come faster than you can use them.
I want to say to the people, if I am a star, the people made me a star. No studio, no person, but the people did.
The Olympics meant everything to me. Going through them is like nothing else you will ever experience. For those few weeks, you are in another world. At that point, I couldn't see how there could ever be anything better.
I've done everything I've wanted to do. I have three children, I have grandchildren, I have books, I did movies, I've directed movies; I've done almost everything I've wanted to do.
Making every desire come true is not difficult once you realize that the same thing is always at work - you are transforming pure awareness from one state to another.
When you prohibit failure, you kill innovation. If you kill innovation in fundraising, you can't raise more revenue. If you can't raise more revenue, you can't grow. And if you can't grow, you can't possibly solve large social problems.
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