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Like the British Constitution, she owes her success in practice to her inconsistencies in principle.
Thomas Hardy
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Success may come from contradictions and adaptability rather than strict adherence to principles.

This quote suggests that flexibility and the ability to navigate contradictions can be more effective for achieving success than rigidly following set principles. Thomas Hardy draws a parallel with the British Constitution, indicating that the ability to adapt and change, even if it leads to inconsistencies, can be crucial for practical success in various endeavors.

Themes

SuccessPrincipleInconsistencyAdaptabilityFlexibility

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the nature of success in business, this quote can highlight the importance of adaptability.

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Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal.
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Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being; it enveloped her as a photosphere, irradiated her into forgetfulness of her past sorrows, keeping back the gloomy spectres that would persist in their attempts to touch herβ€”doubt, fear, moodiness, care, shame. She knew that they were waiting like wolves just outside the circumscribing light, but she had long spells of power to keep them in hungry subjection there.
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The trees have inquisitive eyes, haven't they? -that is, seem as if they had. And the river says,-'Why do ye trouble me with your looks?' And you seem to see numbers of to-morrows just all in a line, the first of them the biggest and clearest, the others getting smaller and smaller as they stand further away; but they all seem very fierce and cruel and as if they said, 'I'm coming! Beware of me! Beware of me!
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Quote by Thomas Hardy | QuoteProject