QuoteProject
Courage, not cleverness; not even inspiration, is the grain of mustard that grows up to be a great tree.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Courage is more important than intelligence or inspiration for achieving great things.

This quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein emphasizes that the foundation of significant achievements lies in courage rather than just smart thinking or fleeting inspiration. Just as a small mustard seed can grow into a large tree, the act of being brave can lead to profound outcomes in one's life, highlighting the immense potential that courage holds in personal and collective growth.

Themes

CourageGrowthPotentialMustard SeedAchievement

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about pursuing dreams despite fears.

More from Ludwig Wittgenstein

If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
One cannot guess how a word functions. One has to look at its use and learn from that. But the difficulty is to remove the prejudice which stands in the way of doing this. It is not a stupid prejudice.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
No one likes having offended another person; hence everyone feels so much better if the other person doesn't show he's been offended. Nobody likes being confronted by a wounded spaniel. Remember that. It is much easier patiently - and tolerantly - to avoid the person you have injured than to approach him as a friend. You need courage for that.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
It's impossible for me to say one word about all that music has meant to me in my life. How, then, can I hope to be understood?
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead
My day passes between logic, whistling, going for walks, and being depressed. I wish to God that I were more intelligent and everything would finally become clear to me - or else that I needn't live much longer.
Ludwig WittgensteinRead

Similar quotes

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope.
Jack LaytonRead
Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don't.
Thomas KeneallyRead
When I was a teenager, the biggest heartthrob was Tab Hunter. He was in every movie out of Warner Bros. until he was exposed as gay, and his career faded. That was an object lesson. I knew I must protect my sexual orientation.
George TakeiRead
The concessions of the weak are the concessions of fear.
Edmund BurkeRead
The courage to be is rooted in the God who appears when God has disappeared in the anxiety of doubt.
Paul TillichRead
I really want to help stop violence toward women.
Eve EnslerRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.