No man was ever great by imitation.
Interpretation
Originality and authenticity are key to true greatness.
This quote by Samuel Johnson emphasizes that true greatness cannot be achieved through mere imitation of others. Instead, it suggests that individuals must embrace their unique qualities and think for themselves to truly stand out and make a significant impact. Greatness is found in originality, creativity, and the courage to forge oneβs own path rather than simply copying those who came before.
In practice
In a motivational speech about pursuing one's unique talents.
To be of no church is dangerous. Religion, of which the rewards are distant, and which is animated only by faith and hope, will glide by degrees out of the mind unless it be invigorated and reimpressed by external ordinances, by stated calls to worship, and the salutary influence of example.
He that reads and grows no wiser seldom suspects his own deficiency, but complains of hard words and obscure sentences, and asks why books are written which cannot be understood.
To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.
Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.
When any anxiety or gloom of the mind takes hold of you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaining; but exert yourselves to hide it, and by endeavoring to hide it you drive it away.
A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other.
I forgot more than you'll ever know.
I know you won't believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others.
Training the intellect does not result in intelligence. Intelligence comes into being when one acts in perfect harmony, both intellectually and emotionally.
If they tell you that she died of sleeping pills you must know that she died of a wasting grief, of a slow bleeding at the soul.
People need trouble - a little frustration to sharpen the spirit on, toughen it.
Cautiousness in judgment is nowadays to be recommended to each and every one: if we gained only one incontestable truth every ten years from each of our philosophical writers the harvest we reaped would be sufficient.
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