And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
Humanity does not ask to be happy.It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf. Survival first, and then happiness as we can manage it... Take what pleasure you can in the interstices of your work, , but your work is first, learning first, winning is everything because without it there is nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of hard work and prioritizing responsibilities over personal happiness.
Orson Scott Card's quote suggests that humanity's primary concern isn't happiness but rather the dedication and brilliance we bring to our work and responsibilities. It conveys that survival and fulfillment come from prioritizing work, learning, and success. Only after fulfilling these obligations can one then seek moments of joy and pleasure amidst the busyness of life.
Themes
WorkHappinessSuccessMotivationDedication
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges, one could quote Card to inspire diligence.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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