It's a failure of national vision when you regard children as weapons, and talents as materials you can mine, assay, and fabricate for profit and defense.
John HerseyRead
Do not work primarily for money; do your duty to patients first and let the money follow; our life is short, we don't live twice; the whirlwind will pick up the leaves and spin them, but then it will drop them and they will form a pile.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Prioritize your responsibilities over monetary gain, as life is brief and should be meaningful.
This quote from John Hersey emphasizes the importance of focusing on one's duties and responsibilities rather than simply chasing after money. It reflects the idea that life is fleeting, and while practical matters like income are necessary, true fulfillment comes from serving others and doing what is right. The metaphor of the whirlwind illustrates how life moves quickly, affecting us in ways we cannot control, yet it encourages finding meaning in our actions despite the chaos.
Themes
ResponsibilityMoneyLifeDutyMeaning
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech on career fulfillment.
More from John Hersey
All quotes →To be a writer is to throw away a great deal, not to be satisfied, to type again, and then again and once more, and over and over.
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The crux of the matter is whether total war in its present form is justifiable, even when it serves a just purpose. Does it not have material and spiritual evil as its consequences which far exceed whatever good might result? When will our moralists give us an answer to this question?
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Journalism allows its readers to witness history; fiction gives its readers an opportunity to live it.
John HerseyRead
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