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Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
Eleanor Roosevelt
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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.

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