QuoteProject
Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it
Confucius
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Stay curious and dedicated to learning, regardless of your goals and fears.

This quote by Confucius encourages an attitude of continuous learning and growth. It suggests that one should approach education and personal development with the same seriousness as if they were striving to achieve a critical goal, while also embracing the anxiety of possibly not reaching that goal, driving them to learn more and explore deeply.

Themes

LearningEducationGrowthGoalsFear

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about the importance of lifelong learning.

More from Confucius

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
ConfuciusRead
Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
ConfuciusRead
When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
ConfuciusRead
Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
ConfuciusRead
The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
ConfuciusRead
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
ConfuciusRead

Similar quotes

The assumption of all education is that learning will be directed toward constructive ends and I'm convinced that colleges should support students in their determination to be useful, self-sufficient, and productive.
Ernest L. BoyerRead
Until, modern times when it became mostly a civic task, education was considered a sacred work. It was sacred because it involved the indwelling spirit in the student and because it required an awakened spirit in the teachers. Spirit to spirit, genius to genius, soul to soul go the true lessons that help young people become themselves. Ultimately, each person holds the key to the story trying to be lived from within, but first someone else must help unlock the mystery of one’s life.
Michael MeadeRead
Teaching is not filling up a pail, it is lighting a fire.
William Butler YeatsRead
Knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education.
Henry AdamsRead
Upon the education of the people of this country the fate of this country depends.
Benjamin DisraeliRead
In talking with scholars, I observe that they lost on ruder companions those years of boyhood which alone could give imaginative literature a religious and infinite quality in their esteem.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.