You need courage to be creative. You need the courage to see things differently, courage to go against the crowd, courage to take a different approach, courage to stand alone, if you have to, courage to choose activity over inactivity.
Human beings are the only creatures who have the ability to write down their goals and design their future. And here is why most of us don't. We're trapped either by regret of the past or the routine of the present.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the unique human capacity to plan for the future while warning against being hindered by past regrets and present routines.
Jim Rohn's quote highlights the distinctive ability of humans to articulate their aspirations and intentionally shape their futures. He contrasts this potential with the common human tendency to become ensnared by past experiences and the monotony of daily life, which can prevent us from recognizing and pursuing our goals. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder of the importance of actively engaging with our future rather than being passive recipients of our past and present.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth and taking action.
More from Jim Rohn
All quotes →It isn’t what the book costs. It’s what it will cost you if you don’t read it.
Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills.
The major value of reaching goals is not to acquire it, but it's the person you become while you're working to acquire it.
Faith is the ability to see things that don't yet exist. Faith, though, can turn difficulty into reality, positive reality.
Leaders must understand that some people will inevitably sell out to the evil side. Don't waste your time wondering why; spend your time discovering who.
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The future was uncertain, absolutely, and there were many hurdles, twists, and turns to come, but as long as I kept moving forward, one foot in front of the other, the voices of fear and shame, the messages from those who wanted me to believe that I wasn't good enough, would be stilled.
The potential for greatness lives within us all.
The basis of persistence is the Power of Will.
A developed India by 2020, or even earlier, is not a dream. It need not be a mere vision in the minds of many Indians. It is a mission we can all take up - and succeed.