If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
Tammy DuckworthRead
I get up every single day trying to repay a debt that I can never repay. Never. And I will work hard. Because I don't know why I was saved. I don't know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker feels a sense of obligation to make the most of their life after being saved from a dire situation.
Tammy Duckworth's quote reflects a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility. She expresses a commitment to work hard each day as a way to honor her life after a significant experience that left her feeling indebted. This sense of indebtedness drives her motivation and underscores the idea that life should be lived fully in recognition of the second chance she feels she has been given.
Themes
GratitudeDebtMotivationLifeHard Work
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about resilience and gratitude.
More from Tammy Duckworth
All quotes →It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in combat missions and achieve my American Dream.
Tammy DuckworthRead
I went to Iraq in 2004 because I believe in doing my duty, not because I agreed with the war.
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The women putting their lives at risk for our country deserve better than to be treated as second-class citizens.
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The wheelchair and the prosthesis give me a soapbox to stand on. If it helps me get my message across, I'm glad; then we need to talk about what we need to do for this country.
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As I recovered at Walter Reed, I worried about the soldiers who pulled me out of my helicopter that Friday afternoon. Would they make it back okay? And what about all the other soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who were also putting their lives on the line every day?
Tammy DuckworthRead
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With the Special Ops Warrior Foundation's help, we put 266 kids through college last year. And that's what keeps me going. I'll be honest, I don't like running. I don't like biking. I don't like swimming. I do it to raise money. But, now that I'm in this sport, I want to see how far I can push myself. What makes me tick is that pain you feel when you do these ultramarathons. I love knowing that everyone's suffering because I know I can suffer just a little bit more. I can take a lot of pain.
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You have to fail and then get better. Then you have to fail again, and then get even better.
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