Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the fear of not trying hard enough.
Jane Addams highlights the deep regret one might feel if they give up prematurely, particularly if their continued efforts could have led to significant positive outcomes. The quote urges individuals to confront their fears of failure and to continue striving for their goals, as the potential to make a meaningful impact should motivate them to persist.
In practice
In a motivational speech about resilience, I would use this quote to inspire the audience to keep trying despite challenges.
I might believe I had unusual talent if I did not know what good music was; I might enjoy half an hour's practice a day if I were busy and happy the rest of the time. You do not know what life means when all the difficulties are removed! I am simply smothered and sickened with advantages. It is like eating a sweet dessert the first thing in the morning.
America's future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what he is taught; hence we must watch what we teach, and how we live.
Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.
I am not one of those who believe - broadly speaking - that women are better than men. We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislatures, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance.
National events determine our ideals, as much as our ideals determine national events.
If the meanest man in the republic is deprived of his rights,then every man in the republic is deprived of his rights.
Every day you miss playing or practicing is one day longer it takes to be good.
The most reliable way to predict the future is to create it.
The question I ask myself like almost every day is: βAm I doing the most important thing I could be doing?' Unless I feel like Iβm working on the most important problem that I can help with, then Iβm not going to feel good about how Iβm spending my time. And thatβs what this company is.
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.
You don't actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been taken, some situation will have been created that matches your initial picture of the outcome closely enough that you can call it "done.
You know, be able to do something great in your life, you're gonna have to realize your failures. You're gonna have to embrace them and figure out how to overcome it.
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