Regard as your most faithful friends, not those who praise everything you say or do, but those who criticize your mistakes.
IsocratesRead
It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement. Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs, therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity or undue depression in adversity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Prioritizing direction in life is more important than rushing to reach your goals, and one should remain balanced in success and failure.
This quote from Isocrates emphasizes the importance of having a clear purpose and direction in life, rather than simply being preoccupied with the speed at which we achieve our goals. It warns against equating mere activity with true accomplishment and reminds us to maintain a steady mindset in both success and failure, as life's circumstances are ever-changing.
Themes
DirectionPurposeBalanceAchievementSuccessFailure
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational seminar focusing on personal development.
More from Isocrates
All quotes →But I marvel when I observe these men setting themselves up as instructors of youth who cannot see that they are applying the analogy of an art with hard and fast rules to a creative process
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Spend your leisure time in cultivating an ear attentive to discourse, for in this way you will find that you learn with ease what others have found out with difficulty.
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And let no one suppose that I claim that just living can be taught for, in a word, I hold that there does not exist an art of the kind which can implant sobriety and justice into depraved natures. Nevertheless, I do think that the study of political discourse can help more than any other thing to stimulate and form such qualities of character
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Of all our possessions, wisdom alone is immortal.
IsocratesRead
Abhor flatterers as you would deceivers; for both, if trusted, injure those who trust them. If you admit as friends men who seek your favor for the lowest ends, your life will be lacking in friends who will risk your displeasure for the highest good.
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