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Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.
Ovid
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Persistence, rather than force, leads to significant change over time.

Ovid's quote illustrates the power of persistence in achieving difficult goals. It emphasizes that gradual and consistent effort, much like the slow erosion of stone by water, can lead to profound results, highlighting that patience and determination are often more effective than sheer force or intensity.

Themes

PersistenceEffortChangeDeterminationConsistency

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech, to emphasize the importance of not giving up.

More from Ovid

We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
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All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.
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A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.
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Fas est ab hoste doceri._x000D_ One should learn even from one's enemies.
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Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
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The end doesn't justify the means.
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