Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.
Nikki GiovanniRead
We have a world to conquer...one person at a time...starting with ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Change begins within us before it can affect the world around us.
This quote emphasizes the importance of personal growth and self-improvement as the first steps toward making a positive impact in the world. It suggests that in order to conquer challenges and achieve great things, we must first look inward and address our own weaknesses and strengths, making it a journey of self-awareness and action.
Themes
ChangeSelf-ImprovementMotivationActionGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about personal responsibility.
More from Nikki Giovanni
All quotes βI want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.
Nikki GiovanniRead
A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it.
Nikki GiovanniRead
Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste.
Nikki GiovanniRead
Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we canβt drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we canβt have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.
Nikki GiovanniRead
If you were a pure bolt of fire-cutting the skies I'd touch you-risking my life-not because I'm brave or strong, but because I'm fascinated by what the outcome would be.
Nikki GiovanniRead
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Mental strength is really important because you either win or lose in your mind. And I'm not solely talking about sporting matches, boxing events - anything you do, you do it first with your mental strength. And you can actually train and develop it, and I am responsible for what I'm saying because I have experience with that.
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Hold up a mirror and ask yourself what you are capable of doing, and what you really care about. Then take the initiative - don't wait for someone else to ask you to act.
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I used to think that losing made you more hungry and determined but after my success at the Olympics and the U.S. Open I realise that winning is the biggest motivation.
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It's not the style that motivates me, as much as an attitude of openness that I have when I go into a project.
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