Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of focusing on ideas rather than getting caught up in trivial matters or gossip.
Eleanor Roosevelt's quote highlights the varying levels of thought and discussion among people. It suggests that those who are truly intelligent and insightful engage in the exploration of ideas and concepts, while those of average intellect focus on events and happenings, and those with limited understanding are preoccupied with gossiping about others. This serves as a reminder to elevate our conversations and thoughts to a higher level for personal growth and understanding.
Themes
IdeasDiscussionWisdomIntellectUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership meeting discussing how to innovate, one might quote this to elevate the focus to new ideas.
More from Eleanor Roosevelt
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Our children should learn the general framework of their government and then they should know where they come in contact with the government, where it touches their daily lives and where their influence is exerted on the government. It must not be a distant thing, someone else's business, but they must see how every cog in the wheel of a democracy is important and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.
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It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know.
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I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do.
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Work is always an antidote to depression.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
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