The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thomas CarlyleRead
When new turns of behavior cease to appear in the life of the individual, its behavior ceases to be intelligent.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Intelligence is linked to the ability to adapt and change oneβs behavior.
This quote by Thomas Carlyle emphasizes the idea that true intelligence is demonstrated through the capacity for growth and adaptation in behavior. When an individual stops evolving and lacks new responses to their experiences, it signifies a stagnation of intellect and creativity.
Themes
IntelligenceBehaviorAdaptationChangeGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a motivational speech about personal growth and development.
More from Thomas Carlyle
All quotes βThirty millions, mostly fools.
Thomas CarlyleRead
There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.
Thomas CarlyleRead
For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil; it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Clean undeniable right, clear undeniable might: either of these once ascertained puts an end to battle. All battle is a confused experiment to ascertain one and both of these.
Thomas CarlyleRead
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