You learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of hope.
For the rest of my life there are two days that will never again trouble me. The first day is yesterday with all its blunders and tears, follies and defeats. Yesterday has passed away, beyond my control forever. The other day is tomorrow with all its pitfalls and threats, its dangers and mystery. Until the sun rises again I have no stake in tomorrow, for it is still unborn.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of living in the present by letting go of the past and not worrying about the future.
In this quote, Og Mandino reflects on the significance of the present moment by distinguishing between two days: yesterday and tomorrow. He suggests that yesterday, filled with its mistakes and sorrows, is beyond our reach and should not burden us, while tomorrow is shrouded in uncertainty and risks. Thus, he encourages us to focus on the here and now, as it is the only time truly within our control, reminding us to live fully in the present.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech, one might say this quote to inspire the audience to focus on their current goals rather than past failures.
More from Og Mandino
All quotes →Why do we continue to breed little minds who can find no recompense for their own failures other than to belittle and mock the talents, even the dress, of others? When will everyone realize that we are all equal in the eyes of God?
The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what the task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. Therefore I saith the surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work for which you are paid.
Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.
Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future.
Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better... or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future.
Similar quotes
On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma and Rupert from ten years ago. They were 12. I have also recently returned from New York, and while I was there, I saw Daniel singing and dancing (brilliantly) on Broadway. A lifetime seems to have passed in minutes.
I suppose life is a little like that, isn't it, a message in a bottle pitched out to sea, to be carried by the winds and the tides, washing up on the beaches we could never imagine.
Life has to be everything. It can't be all sad. It can't be all peaches and cream. Because the lows have you appreciate the highs. And the highs give you perspective on the lows. If it's not everything, it becomes flat or mundane.
After my training wheels, my first real bike was a Schwinn, and my first time out, I rode down a hill, didn’t know how to stop, and ran right into a tree. So, that was a nice experience ... like realizing, oh, there are brakes!
Life happens too fast for you ever to think about it. If you could just persuade people of this, but they insist on amassing information.
Life sometimes gives you a second chance.