The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thomas CarlyleRead
The weakest living creature, by concentrating his powers on a single object, can accomplish something. The strongest, by dispensing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything. The drop, by continually falling, bores its passage through the hardest rock. The hasty torrent rushes over it with hideous uproar, and leaves no trace behind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus and perseverance can lead to success, even in the face of challenges.
This quote emphasizes the importance of concentration and persistence in achieving goals. It illustrates that even the weakest creature can succeed when it dedicates its efforts to a singular task, while those who are strong but scattered in their efforts may ultimately fail. The analogy of water demonstrates that continuous, focused effort, even if seemingly small, can create profound impacts over time, unlike chaotic and unfocused strength that leaves no lasting mark.
Themes
FocusPerseveranceEffortSuccessStrength
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire students during their studies to focus on their subjects effectively.
More from Thomas Carlyle
All quotes →Thirty millions, mostly fools.
Thomas CarlyleRead
There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.
Thomas CarlyleRead
For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil; it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Clean undeniable right, clear undeniable might: either of these once ascertained puts an end to battle. All battle is a confused experiment to ascertain one and both of these.
Thomas CarlyleRead
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