There's an old saying: 'No piece of writing is ever finished, it's just abandoned.' But my own rule is: No piece of work is done until you want to kill everyone involved in the publishing process, especially yourself.
Chuck PalahniukRead
You cannot be the person they know and the great, glorious person you want to become. Not at the same time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
You must evolve beyond others' perceptions of you to achieve your true potential.
This quote emphasizes the idea that personal transformation requires shedding the identity that others have imposed upon you. In order to grow into the 'great, glorious person' you aspire to be, it is necessary to leave behind the limitations of how you are currently viewed by others, as you cannot embody both identities simultaneously.
Themes
ChangeIdentityGrowthTransformationPotential
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth.
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One thing I really envy about my friends who have kids is that as their children develop, they're able to revisit their own developmental stages and recognise themselves and undo a lot of things they decided.
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If you knew that your life was merely a phase or short, short segment of your entire existence, how would you live? Knowing nothing 'real' was at risk, what would you do? You'd live a gigantic, bold, fun, dazzling life. You know you would. That's what the ghosts want us to do - all the exciting things they no longer can.
Chuck PalahniukRead
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