When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favour progress, provided they can have it without change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True progress often requires facing discomfort and making changes.
This quote emphasizes the human tendency to seek improvement and healing while avoiding the necessary challenges and discomfort that come with those processes. It points out that genuine progress and personal development demand an acceptance of change and pain, which many people are reluctant to embrace.
Themes
ProgressChangePainGrowthDevelopment
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about personal development.
More from Anthony De Mello
All quotes βPerfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.
Anthony De MelloRead
The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows up?" someone asked. "Outrageously happy," said the master.
Anthony De MelloRead
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
Anthony De MelloRead
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn't harden itself to any persons or things.
Anthony De MelloRead
Problems only exist in the human mind.
Anthony De MelloRead
Similar quotes
Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology. It is time to sweep away these relics of the past and set further generations free of them.
Shirley ChisholmRead
Rather, to change a habit, you must keep the old cue, and deliver the old reward, but insert a new routine.
Charles DuhiggRead
The only way really to influence countries, in terms of poverty, is to get them to change their policies and get them to understand what the issues are.
James WolfensohnRead
Racial bias does exist, and until we can all admit its existence and become introspective as to whether our own personal biases are impacting how we deal with others, there will be no change.
Sunny HostinRead
I think I would say that there is absolutely no way to reconcile an austerity agenda with climate action. Our political class needs to understand that the fight against austerity and the fight for climate action are the same fight.
Naomi KleinRead
If you're not adapting to the very rapidly changing environment, if you can't think creatively, you lose big in this society because there are very few jobs for you left.
Robert SternbergRead