Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
DemosthenesRead
You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True nobility of spirit is reflected in one's actions; dishonorable conduct undermines one's character.
This quote by Demosthenes emphasizes the intrinsic link between a person's actions and their character. A proud and noble spirit cannot coexist with mean or petty behavior; instead, one's actions shape and define their true nature. Therefore, to cultivate a chivalrous spirit, one must engage in honorable and generous conduct, reflecting their true inner strength and values.
Themes
CharacterNobilityHonorConductActions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech about personal integrity.
More from Demosthenes
All quotes βBeware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master
DemosthenesRead
Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.
DemosthenesRead
A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.
DemosthenesRead
Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.
DemosthenesRead
Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.
DemosthenesRead
Similar quotes
I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star, whose influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop.
William ShakespeareRead
People only see what they are prepared to see. If you look for what is good and what you can be grateful for you will find it everywhere.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
I think if you're open-minded, the road will take you where it takes you. If you're closed, you might not get to go where the road is heading.
Russell SimmonsRead
Poor planning or poor execution of plans is simply to let some force other than reason shape reality.
Robert McnamaraRead
A speculator is a man who observes the future, and acts before it occurs.
Bernard BaruchRead
A lot of people go off and have fun adventures, or hard adventures, and their impulse is to write about them right away. What really makes a difference is having some perspective on what happened.
Cheryl StrayedRead