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Along the light-hearted and entertaining lines of threads for collecting anecdotes on parenting gifted kids or things gifted kids do ... this thread might collect a roundup of quotations that resonate with gifted people. Several members have great quotes in their forum signatures.  Beyond those, the first quote I'll offer is inspired by the extensive Book Recommendations on the forum. “ I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place.” ― Anne Tyler (author, The Accidental Tourist)
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I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
--Oscar Wilde
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There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.
Oops, sorry, wrong thread! It's very hot here today.
Last edited by Tigerle; 08/13/15 12:37 AM.
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I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
--Oscar Wilde There's always the apocryphal - nothing to declare except my genius also, 'all of us are in the gutter but some of us are gazing at the stars'
Become what you are
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“Never engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.”
― Winston Churchill
(I saw it paraphrased as "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.")
Life is better when I remember this sentiment.
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Arthur Schopenhauer: “Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.”
“I suppose flattery hurts no one, that is, if he doesn’t inhale.” — Adlai Stevenson
And like ConnectingDots, I have a mantra that helps me though many a moment: "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." It's amazing how many problems disappear when people (including me) stop assuming it's all about them, and therefore the other guy did it on purpose.
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"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
- Tigerle
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No, that was Rat! Or Mole? Sorry, I already said, it's just SO hot here today, my brain is barely turning over.
Last edited by Tigerle; 08/13/15 07:05 AM.
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“Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck.”
-Robert Heinlein
Last edited by cmguy; 08/13/15 09:23 AM. Reason: Adding attribution for quote
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"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
- Tigerle Thanks for adding an attribution... without citation a "quote" may be considered plagiarism. However, this quotation is actually from the character Water Rat, in the often-recommended children's book The Wind in the Willows.
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“Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck.” - Robert Heinlein, science fiction author (deceased)
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Oops - yes forgot the attribution. Thanks!
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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."
- Arthur Schopenhauer
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"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
- Tigerle Thanks for adding an attribution... without citation a "quote" may be considered plagiarism. However, this quotation is actually from the character Water Rat, in the often-recommended children's book The Wind in the Willows. Ah, see... I had thought it sounded familiar, but then I thought that Tigerle had meant it for a different thread and just left it there. Confusion all around!
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"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
- Tigerle Thanks for adding an attribution... without citation a "quote" may be considered plagiarism. However, this quotation is actually from the character Water Rat, in the often-recommended children's book The Wind in the Willows. Ah, see... I had thought it sounded familiar, but then I thought that Tigerle had meant it for a different thread and just left it there. Confusion all around! Sorry guys, it was a joke! A joke! Was practically melting trying to catch up on housework because it was so hot already in the morning, wanting to play because I thought it was a fun thread, but all my brain kept resonating with was just how much rather I'd be messing about on the river in boats. So I put that. It's one of my favourites, anyway. Hope you are having a good summer messing about wherever y'all!
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I've loved this quote for over 20 years:
Your life feels different on you, once you greet death and understand your heart's position. You wear your life like a garment from the mission bundle sale ever after -- lightly because you realize you never paid nothing for it, cherishing because you know you won't ever come by such a bargain again.
- Louise Erdrich
Stacey. Former high school teacher, back in the corporate world, mom to 2 bright girls: DD12 & DD7.
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Would W.Wordsworth, Splendor In the Grass quote fit here?
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass,of glory in the flower
We will grieve not,rather find
Strength in what remains behind,
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that that bring the philosophic mind.
William Wordsworth
Last edited by atticcat; 08/14/15 09:46 AM. Reason: extra word
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This is so beautiful. Thanks for posting. I'll be re-reading this. I looked up the author: She has more than 2 dozen published books to her credit, and has a bookstore.
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Thanks for posting this meaningful poem. It is both solemn and inspirational.
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Tigerle, "messing about in boats" is a favorite quote in our house, too!
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"To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
"Which goes to show that the best of us sometimes have to eat our words."
And the one that actually stunned me when I read it:
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"
Dumbledore
Last edited by Tigerle; 08/17/15 10:57 AM.
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One of my favorites: “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
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Another great one. Anyone wanting context, can click here.
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One of my favorites:
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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That'll end a bout of procrastination! In looking up which work it came from, I found that the source seems elusive, causing some to wonder whether the attribution to Goethe may be an oft-repeated error? Or possibly it was from a personal letter, not a published work? Still, it is a great quote. It reminds me of this bit of verse: "Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, closing lines from "A Psalm of Life" And also: "Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can."- Arthur Ashe
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One of my favorites: “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” And Gandalf goes on to say: “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
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'I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely' -Sherlock Holmes
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I love this thread! I love wonderfully profound, succinct, and wise statements.
Two select quotes of wisdom by Aerith Gainsborough, my idol, from the video game Final Fantasy VII:I think being normal is the greatest happiness. Don't give up, never give up hope! Spoken with full confidence and matter-of-factly by Maria Traydor, in the video game Star Ocean 3, reminding me to believe in myself even when my confidence and ambitions are called ridiculous, arrogant, et cetera:I'm a winner. I'm destined for a greatness. Gandalf, forever reminding me to remain humble:The wise speak only of what they know. A poem by Tupac Shakur, dedicated to himself—I presume fully aware of his genius:In the Depths of SolitudeI exist in the depths of solitude pondering my true goal Trying 2 find peace of mind and still preserve my soul CONSTANTLY yearning 2 be accepted and from all receive respect Never compromising but sometimes risky and that is my only regret A young heart with an old soul how can there be peace How can I be in the depths of solitude when there R 2 inside of me This Duo within me causes the perfect opportunity 2 learn and live twice as fast as those who accept simplicity Lastly, I offer two of my own :She who follows her heart without her head is a fool; she who follows her head without her heart a tyrant. I'd rather die in solitude with justice in my heart than in the company of evil. Be inspiring!
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Ah, I thought of this thread the other day when I heard this old song on the radio, by the Waterboys. It always reminds me of my kids I pictured a rainbow You held it in your hands I had flashes But you saw the plan I wandered out in the world for years While you just stayed in your room I saw the crescent You saw the whole of the moon The whole of the moon You were there in the turnstiles With the wind at your heels You stretched for the stars And you know how it feels To reach too high Too far Too soon You saw the whole of the moon I was grounded While you filled the skies I was dumbfounded by truth You cut through lies I saw the rain dirty valley You saw Brigadoon I saw the crescent You saw the whole of the moon! I spoke about wings You just flew I wondered I guessed and I tried You just knew I sighed ... but you swooned! I saw the crescent You saw the whole of the moon The whole of the moon! With a torch in your pocket And the wind at your heels You climbed on the ladder And you know how it feels To get too high Too far Too soon You saw the whole of the moon The whole of the moon! Unicorns and cannonballs Palaces and piers Trumpets towers and tenements Wide oceans full of tears Flags rags ferryboats Scimitars and scarves Every precious dream and vision Underneath the stars Yes you climbed on the ladder With the wind in your sails You came like a comet Blazing your trail Too high Too far Too soon You saw the whole of the moon ETA: AAaand I've had that stuck in my head all afternoon now!
Last edited by AvoCado; 10/13/15 09:00 PM.
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I do not have anything to add, just that I thoroughly enjoyed this thread, especially the last post. Actually I do have one- but it has to do with creativity and perfectionism…I have always loved it.
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others." Martha Graham
I am also always moved to tears by the End poem in Minecraft, but that's another thread..;)
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Plato on Socrates' trial: "The unexamined life is not worth living."
Oscar Wilde: "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."
The eminently quotable Winston Churchill: "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."
Churchill again: “I never worry about action, but only inaction.”
ETA: That's signature worthy.
What is to give light must endure burning.
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And, more comically/cynically, Lady Bracknell interviewing Jack in my favourite play by Oscar Wilde. The second half of her opinion exaggeratedly reflects mine on the current state of education:
“I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone.”
“Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.”
What is to give light must endure burning.
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“Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.” I love this. Why am I seeing dame Maggie Smith before my minds eye saying this?
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Interested individuals can sign up to receive a quote of the day from values.com. Each week, the quotes focus on a theme. This week's theme is grit.
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I always liked the little anecdotes, jokes and tongue-in-cheek proverbs put out by the old Unix fortune program that you could set yourself up to receive at every login.
Become what you are
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Just came across this one today, had to add:
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” — Plato
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"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." - Robert Maynard Hutchins
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The object of education?
"Why, to make the child happy and useful!"
Betsy Trotwood, in "David Copperfield".
I've never read a better, or more succinct description. I like the order, too, but the emphasis should be almost equal.
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Indeed, this was Miss Trotwood's stated motive in seeking "to put him to a school where he may be thoroughly well taught and well treated."
How lovely that she valued having children well treated in their learning environment!
The need for being well-treated in one's learning environment is a frequent topic on the forums and may be key to many things including a child being happy, becoming a life-long learner, and being a useful contributor to society.
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Indeed, this was Miss Trotwood's stated motive in seeking "to put him to a school where he may be thoroughly well taught and well treated."
How lovely that she valued having children well treated in their learning environment!
The need for being well-treated in one's learning environment is a frequent topic on the forums and may be key to many things including a child being happy, becoming a life-long learner, and being a useful contributor to society. Yes, if you compare it to the schools in, say, "Nicholas Nickelby" or "Jane Eyre", you realize that it's not actually a universal value in 19th century England!
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Following Google's Spotlight on Jane Jacobs today, I read up on her in a few places.
Got this from her Wikipedia entry:-
She studied at Columbia University's School of General Studies for two years, taking courses in geology, zoology, law, political science, and economics.[8] About the freedom to pursue study across her wide-ranging interests, she said:
For the first time I liked school and for the first time I made good marks. This was almost my undoing because after I had garnered, statistically, a certain number of credits I became the property of Barnard College at Columbia, and once I was the property of Barnard I had to take, it seemed, what Barnard wanted me to take, not what I wanted to learn. Fortunately my high-school marks had been so bad that Barnard decided I could not belong to it and I was therefore allowed to continue getting an education.[9]
^ Allen, Max (ed), ed. (1997-10-01). Ideas that Matter: The Worlds of Jane Jacobs. Ginger Press. ISBN 0-921773-44-7.
Love that last sentence.
Last edited by madeinuk; 05/04/16 04:52 PM.
Become what you are
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"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." - Muhammad Ali "The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20, has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; It's the pebble in your shoe." - Muhammad Ali "It's not bragging if you can back it up." - Muhammad Ali "Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are." - Muhammad Ali "Don't count the days; Make the days count." - Muhammad Ali "If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you." - Muhammad Ali "Live every day as if it were your last because some day you are going to be right." - Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay) may be best known as a boxer, and remembered for his catchy rhymes, but he was also the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom award recipient.
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"We seem to have forgotten that the expression "a liberal education" originally meant among the Romans one worthy of free men; while the learning of trades and professions by which to get your livelihood merely, was considered worthy of slaves only. But taking a hint from the word, I would go a step further and say, that it is not the man of wealth and leisure simply, though devoted to art, or science, or literature, who, in a true sense, is liberally educated, but only the earnest and free man."- Henry David Thoreau, "The Last Days of John Brown"
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“We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb.” - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic." — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow - (Dumbledore)
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - (Dumbledore)
"I have already proven to you, I make mistakes like the next man. In fact, being – forgive me – rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger"
(Dumbledore)
and last but not least:
"What. An. Idiot." - Hermione Granger/Harrry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Not sure if these have already been mentioned...
"The answer was so simple, I was too smart to see it." --a quote from an episode of Adventure Time
"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid." --Albert Einstein
"What are you reading?" [said with actual interest] --every good teacher.
Last edited by Raevyn; 06/19/16 02:57 PM.
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.
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"We must take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
Sometimes we must interfere." - Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Holocaust Survivor
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, 1986
Author, possibly best known for Night
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We had to read Night for school this past year. I was heartbroken to hear that the author died. 
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.
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"Our elections are free - it's in the results where eventually we pay."
- Bill Stern, sportscaster
(1907-1971)
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"Whoever, in the pursuit of science, seeks after immediate practical utility may rest assured that he seeks in vain."
-Hermann von Helmholtz
;-)
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"You carry your attitude with you. You either achieve or you self-destruct.
"If you think positively, you can even turn a negative into a positive."
"The only failure is not to try."
"One step at a time makes a marathon."- oldest IRONMAN triathlon competitor, "Iron Nun" Sister Madonna Buder, author of The Race to Grace, featured in a N-i-k-e television commercial during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro: N i k e(dot)com/news/unlimited-youth-sister-madonna-buder Note: The word N I K E is captured by the forum's spam filter, therefore the word and the link incorporating that word are spelled out, with dashes or spaces between the letters.
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There's an old saying that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. This saying has been applied to logic (in which an unfounded statement would be a weak link), and also to teams (in which a team member's functioning may be a weak link, for various reasons). A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
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Thank you.
Great link..
Last edited by maisey; 09/10/16 07:43 AM.
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“ I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” - Mother Teresa, as seen in this collection on goodreads. A few more quotes, from the same source: “ If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.” ― Mother Teresa “ I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” ― Mother Teresa “ We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.” ― Mother Teresa Mother Teresa was recently canonized within the Catholic Church: Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata).
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There is a saying " Trust but verify."
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"Comparison is the thief of joy."
- Theodore Roosevelt
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I saw this on Quora today and it made me chuckle:
In the 1950’s a woman said to Adlai Stevenson: “You will have the vote of every intelligent person in the United States!” To which he answered:”It’s not enough. I need a majority.”
Last edited by madeinuk; 10/25/16 05:03 AM.
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I saw this on Quora today and it made me chuckle:
In the 1950’s a woman said to Adlai Stevenson: “You will have the vote of every intelligent person in the United States!” To which he answered:”It’s not enough. I need a majority.” Apt!
What is to give light must endure burning.
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I saw this on Quora today and it made me chuckle:
In the 1950’s a woman said to Adlai Stevenson: “You will have the vote of every intelligent person in the United States!” To which he answered:”It’s not enough. I need a majority.” Apt! LOL, indeed! While humorous, it may not be apt, as this quote is listed as disputed, for lack of facts substantiating that this exchange occurred. Maybe you'll like this quote from Adlai Stevenson: " Who leads us is less important than what leads us — what convictions, what courage, what faith — win or lose."
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“ Nothing is so common-place as to wish to be remarkable.” ― Oliver Wendell Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table
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"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere." - Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) Holocaust Survivor
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, 1986
Author, possibly best known for Night Another quote from Elie Wiesel: “Let us not forget, after all, that there is always a moment when the moral choice is made. Often because of one story or one book or one person, we are able to make a different choice, a choice for humanity, for life.” Mr. Wiesel was speaking of ' the people who were rescuers during the Holocaust.' Eligible students age 13+ are invited to " write an essay responding to Wiesel’s quote in 500 words or less" if interested to participate in the 2017 Facing History Together Student Essay Contest, open March 1-15, 2017. This year's contest is sponsored by Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation's Holocaust Remembrance Project. The 2016 contest was focused on the theme of "To Kill a Mockingbird", and was sponsored by Margaret Stohl, New York Times #1 Best Selling Author (co-author of young adult novel Beautiful Creatures). More information at the website of 2017 Facing History Together, which also provides two questions which may serve as writing prompts: " What story, book, or person has influenced your thinking about ethical decision making? What has it taught you about how you can participate as a caring, thoughtful citizen in the world around you?"
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Just want to mention that we've had Facing History in our school as part of our history curriculum sequence for several years now, and have had excellent responses from teachers and all levels of students. If you have a chance to advocate for it in your district, I would highly recommend it.
...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...
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C.S. Lewis, author, on the topic of Liberal Arts education: Lewis contrasts liberal arts education with what he calls "vocational training," the sort that prepares one for
employment. Such training, he writes, "aims at making not a good man but a good banker, a good electrician,
. . . or a good surgeon." Lewis does admit the importance of such training – for we cannot do without bankers and
electricians and surgeons – but the danger, as he sees it, is the pursuit of training at the
expense of education. "If education is beaten by training, civilization dies," he writes, for "the lesson of history"
is that "civilization is a rarity, attained with difficulty and easily lost." It is the liberal arts,
not vocational training, that preserves civilization by producing reasonable men and responsible citizens. A bit like this quote by Henry David Thoreau. Related links on liberal arts education - here and here
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I have never understood the point of the training versus education debate.
BOTH are *critical* to a culture and an economy and neither stops once 'school' is over for anyone with more intellectual curiousity than a turnip, right?
Last edited by madeinuk; 03/19/17 07:36 AM.
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I apologize for possibly bringing the tone of this discussion down for a moment, but this might be the one place that will appreciate that my initial response to madeinuk's comment on vocational vs liberal arts education was to think about the telephone sanitizers from Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...
...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...
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I have never understood the point of the training versus education debate. As expressed by C.S. Lewis, it is not a debate, so much as raising awareness that there is a distinction between vocational training and liberal arts education. A society may be vulnerable when vocational training stealthily supplants liberal arts education while people remain unaware of the difference, therefore unaware of the change taking place. If people see their children (and society in general) pursuing "education" without realizing that the content of what is being taught has changed from a broad-based or liberal arts education to a rather narrow-focused job training... they may not understand that these children are being prepared to function in a predetermined role in the economy, rather than developing a knowledge of and appreciation for history, art, literature, cultures, etc, along with the penchant to compare/contrast, evaluate, apply critical thinking skills, engage in debate, and essentially be self-determining... self-governing citizens.
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developing a knowledge of and appreciation for history, art, literature, cultures, etc, along with the penchant to compare/contrast, evaluate, apply critical thinking skills, engage in debate, and essentially be self-determining. Not trying to argue but I do not believe that one needs to go to university to acquire any of that. In fact, I would go as far as to say that a person without the above shouldn't even be aapplying to a university in the first place.
Last edited by madeinuk; 03/19/17 03:48 PM.
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I would go as far as to say that a person without the above shouldn't even be aapplying to a university in the first place. In some countries the government begins sorting children early on... possibly these children would be placed on a track for vocational training as telephone sanitizers. ( thanks, aeh ) It may be difficult to truly appreciate and enjoy freedom, including simply choosing one's own educational/vocational path, unless one understands the circumstances others live under (such as government sorting children for career assignment). Becoming aware of the distinction between liberal arts education and vocational training may help people to see with enlightened eyes.
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"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."- attributed (or misattributed) to Mark Twain
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"Done is better than perfect."
I think this is good for all people, but maybe especially good for gifted kids who either find it hard to finish a project because they're afraid it's not good enough, or who throw themselves into a hundred things at once only to lose interest when it's time to get the boring bits done at the end.
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"Done is better than perfect." That is another great one. It reminds me a bit of 2 poems: Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it. ]When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit,
rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about
when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
it seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
when he might have captured the victor's cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
it's when things seem worst, you must not quit. [color:#CC0000] *Some sources attribute this poem to John Greenleaf Whittier, or to Rudyard Kipling.
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Frank Martin, coach, on setting high expectations for youth: “You know what makes me sick to my stomach? When I hear grown people say that kids have changed. Kids haven't changed. Kids don't know anything about anything. We’ve changed as adults. We demand less of kids. We expect less of kids. We make their lives easier instead of preparing them for what life is truly about. We’re the ones that have changed.”
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"Much that passes for education is not education at all but ritual.
The fact is that we are being educated when we know it least."
- David Pierpont Gardner
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a poem for back-to-school: I Opened a Book, by Julia Donaldson I opened a book and in I strode.
Now nobody can find me.
I've left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I'm wearing the cloak, I've slipped on the ring,
I've swallowed the magic potion.
I've fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.
I shared their tears and laughter
And followed their road with its bumps and bends
To the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.
The cloak can no longer hide me.
My chair and my house are just the same,
But I have a book inside me.
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“If it bothers people, then it's working.”-Seymour Durst inventor of the National Debt ClockU.S. National Debt Clock Definition and Historyby Kimbery Amadeo updated Nov 08, 2016 the balance - US economy "... your children, and your grandchildren must pay 100% of the debt through higher taxes. That looming tax increase dampens expectations of future economic growth. It's a big threat to the quality of life for future generations.
Second, increasing debt means the government is becoming more involved in your life through the programs the debt is paying for.
Third, much of the debt is financed by loans from foreign governments. That means they now have a voice in what happens in the United States." The 2nd point in this list reminds me of this old post discussing the irony of the 2 meanings of FREE (as they are at odds with each other): free meaning without cost at point of service -vs- free meaning having personal liberty. It seems that many people are interested in giving up BEING free in order to GET something for free.The 3rd point in this list calls to mind a theme mentioned on the back cover of this book: Confucius Didn't Say
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...he said years later, he felt like ''a spiritual orphan, like a turtle on its back.''
''You see,'' he said, ''I was so different from everyone, so much more intelligent and sensitive and perceptive. I was having fifty perceptions a minute to everyone else's five. I always felt that nobody was going to understand me, going to understand what I felt about things. I guess that's why I started writing. At least on paper I could put down what I thought.'' -Truman Capote, author(source of quote: NY Times Obit, Aug 28, 1984)
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" The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it."- attributed (or misattributed) to George Orwell, author: These books are on the crowd-sourced Recommended Reading lists in this forum. Regarding the attribution or misattribution of this quote:
This quote has been attributed to author George Orwell, but may have actually been the words of Selwyn Duke.Quote misattributed to George Orwell about society drifting from the truth continues to circulate onlineby Reuters fact Check Reuters Dec 9, 2021 link - https://www.reuters.com/article/fac...inues-to-circulate-online-idUSL1N2SU1K1/
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MASKS
She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by -
And never knew.
-Shel SilversteinMASKS appears on pages 20 and 21 of Shel Silverstein's book, Everything On ItMany of Shel Silverstein's poems are both nonsensical on the surface and also profound. The poem MASKS by Shel Silverstein calls to mind gifted kids who are not provided with the opportunity to be grouped with academic and intellectual peers... but rather are subject to school practices of "cutting down tall poppies" used to coerce them to learn to hide their high level of native intelligence. The ShelSilverstein website offers learning guides, activities, and resources for several of his works.
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For all sad words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are these, 'It might have been.'- John Greenleaf Whittier “Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.” - Thomas Alva Edison These quotes remind me that without hard work, individuals may fail to develop their giftedness into achievements, accomplishments, high performance, and success. Undeveloped potential may be lost.
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" [font:Comic Sans MS]The things that we love tell us what we are.[/font][/size]" Thomas Aquinas philosopher, theologian 1225-1274 This quote, although more than 700 years old, brings to mind the multipotentiality of gifted youth. Just a few of many good articles: - When I Grow Up: Multipotentiality and Gifted Youth (IEA, March 2015) - Good at Too Many Things? (Byrdseed) - Nurturing multiple interests & multipotentiality in gifted students (Davidson, NAGC, 2017) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [size:8pt]Quote citations, as provided by BrainyQuote: APA Style Citation Thomas Aquinas Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/thomas_aquinas_186901Chicago Style Citation Thomas Aquinas Quotes. BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc, 2018. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/thomas_aquinas_186901, accessed July 30, 2018. MLA Style Citation "Thomas Aquinas Quotes." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2018. 30 July 2018. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/thomas_aquinas_186901
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"If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
however measured or far away."- Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)This calls to mind that gifted kids can vary considerably from their chronological age peers, in reaching milestones. Here is a roundup of common Behavior characteristics and early milestones which may indicate giftedness: http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....p_of_traits_is_my_baby_o.html#Post248478
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Adding a link to a great quote, in a thread's OP: Children need free time to find their passions"The child is father to the man," poet William Wordsworth wrote in 1802.
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" When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign;
that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." - Jonathan Swift, author, Gulliver's Travels
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[on her parents] They raised all of us to listen to what we think our calling is and then do it. Do it. And do it well. With a sense of purpose.
...
My mother would say to me, "You can't eat beauty. It doesn't feed you." And these words plagued and bothered me; I didn't really understand them until finally I realized that beauty was not a thing that I could acquire or consume, it was something that I just had to be. And what my mother meant when she said you can't eat beauty was that you can't rely on how you look to sustain you. What does sustain us... what is fundamentally beautiful is compassion for yourself and for those around you. That kind of beauty enflames the heart and enchants the soul. - actress Lupita Nyong'o
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"I am happy because I am growing daily and I am honestly not knowing where the limit lies. To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. I treasure the memory of the past misfortunes. It has added more to my bank of fortitude." ~ Bruce Lee Martial artist 1940-1973 Source: AZ Quotes, Bruce Lee, page 10 of 20 Discussing and valuing past mistakes can be role-modeled, especially for gifted children who may feel pressure to perform, and may therefore develop a fear of being wrong, subsequently exhibiting procrastination and perfectionism... stunting their growth through risk avoidance.
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Grouping kids by age for instruction makes about as much pedagogical sense as grouping them by height! ~Deborah Ruf How do we justify an educational system that ignores competence and achievement, and utilizes chronological age as the primary, or only, factor in student placement? – Miraca Gross, 2012 Source: Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, Gifted Education Quotes
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The starfish story. “Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.
As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one.” - as found on good reads. "The Star Thrower" from THE UNEXPECTED UNIVERSE by Loren Eiseley. Links: - https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/56782.Loren_Eiseley- https://web.archive.org/web/2020*/https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/56782.Loren_Eiseley - https://www.eiseley.org/- https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Universe-Loren-C-Eiseley/dp/0544313143- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loren_EiseleyThe starfish story calls to mind the arduous and daunting process of advocacy...
making a difference for one gifted student at a time.
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The following excerpt may resonate with many gifted persons. It is from the book Once and Future King by T.H. White. “The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin... "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.” (Wikipedia provides a synopsis of the book, Goodreads provides several interesting and thought-provoking quotes.)
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"Trouble can be transportation: a bad thing can take you to a good place."
"Success can be your servant or your master."
- Lines spoken by the character Callie, attributed to her Grandpa Tucker, in the Hallmark movie "Roadhouse Romance" (2021)
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Thanks Indigo - I like dual quotations which succinctly encompass wealths of wisdom.
Over the years, there’ve only really been two quotations that I bring up with my kids and they also go hand in hand.
The first, ‘She’ll be right, mate’, goes completely against the second law of thermodynamics wrt entropy. It is such an upbeat quotation but its use is often as an excuse from putting in required effort, so I quote it often in order to dispel the seductive lie - the truth is that good reliable systems require a lot of knowledge, skills and efforts to design, implement and maintain. It is with this attitude a lot of people try to get by with less effort and slipshod work that leads to someone having to expand even more energy later to fix the foreseeable problems which ensue. Since on many occasions, I have been that ‘someone’ and their lack of care has cost me time with my young family, my kids are quite aware of how insidiously destructive such an attitude can be.
The second, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’, is consistent with the biblical parable described in Matthew 25 and somewhat redirects the implications of the first quotation back towards us, for those who don’t/ can’t understand the consequences of their (in)actions can claim ignorance as an excuse whereas responsibility lands on the ‘gifted’ with the ability to recognise the dangers and pitfalls.
The solution for the gifted therefore is to try to mentor others to develop appropriate skills and take on more responsibility. I’ve been in a more senior role in my profession for the last ten years and have had rewarding experiences of mentoring a number of younger colleagues in my own and in allied professions (many of whom now work in other organisations) and promoting a culture which incorporates both individual ownership and group collaboration.
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‘She’ll be right, mate’
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‘With great power comes great responsibility’ Insightful quotes and deeply meaningful! Thanks for sharing, Eagle Mum!
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The following quote brings to mind frequently discussed forum topics of procrastination, risk-taking, learning from mistakes, growth or fixed mindset, and fear of failure. Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. Source: Theodore Roosevelt speech, "The Strenuous Life" (April 10, 1899), Paragraph 4. Voices of Democracy, U.S. Oratory Project, University of Maryland link - https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/roosevelt-strenuous-life-1899-speech-text/
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This quote brings to mind frequently discussed forum topics of procrastination, risk-taking, learning from mistakes, growth or fixed mindset, fear of failure, and personal responsibility. A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else. - John Burroughs, 1837-1921 Link - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_burroughs_121353
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"The fear may not go away; you might just have to do it scared."
- Lines spoken by the character Stephanie, attributed to her Grandmother, in the Hallmark movie "My One and Only" (2019)
This Grandmotherly wisdom brings to mind the frequently discussed forum topic of procrastination, as related to fear of failure.
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"Are you humbly grateful...
. . . . . or grumbly hateful...?"
- words spoken by the character Hank (James Brolin),
in the Hallmark movie "Royal Hearts" (2018).
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The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.
– Stephen Hawking
When you're curious you finds lots of intersting things to do.
– Walt Disney
The only thing you absolutely need to know is the location of the library.
– Albert Einstein
If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.
– Thomas Edison
The important thing is to never stop questioning.
– Albert Einstein
Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
– Albert Einstein
Believe in the child.
– Maria Montessori
This one is more of a idiom… "sharpen your own sword" as in stop comparing and keeping up with what's going on around you and instead work on something that is important to you.
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What a fabulous and thought-provoking collection, millersb02! Thanks for sharing these wonderful nuggets of wisdom and inspiration.
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" Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality." -Nikola Teslahttps://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/nikola_tesla_401270
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The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him... a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create -- so that
without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating.
-- Pearl S. Buck
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Several threads and posts on this Gifted Issues Discussion Forum seek life direction. In addition to learning of other's lived experiences, gaining knowledge of how systems and processes tend to work, and receiving links to resources which provide specialized information, there is also the highly personal and individualized aspect to finding or changing one's life direction: " Know Thyself" - attributed to ancient Greek philosophershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyselfIt is possible that no two people will: - recognize the same opportunity in various circumstances, - create the same list of PROs and CONs, - evaluate the amount of time/effort to seize the opportunity in the same manner, - prioritize the steps involved in moving forward in the same order, or - weigh the rewards using the same scale. A person who remains both philosophically consistent and open minded may best embody the positive growth involved to "Know Thyself."
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"To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as the rights of the speaker."- Federick Douglass Est. February 1818 - 1895 Related book: The Lion Who Wrote History, by Walter Dean Myers (2017)
This inspiring picture book biography tells of Frederick Douglass’ courageous journey to literacy and freedom and his heroic actions as an abolitionist. At the link are a list of awards the book has earned, optional activities to accompany reading the book, clickable links to reviews, and a list of other titles which may be of interest. FAIR Literature Guide has developed a set of standards to encourage critical thinking: https://www.fair-for-all.org/content/pdfs/fair-pro-human-learning-standards.pdf
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" History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes." -attributed to Mark Twain. Analysis: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/01/12/history-rhymes/Sage (Open AI chatbot) says: Mark Twain's phrase "history never repeats itself but it rhymes" means that while events in history may not happen exactly the same way again, they often have similarities or patterns that can be observed. In other words, historical events may not be identical, but they can have similar themes, causes, and outcomes. This phrase is often used to emphasize the importance of studying history to understand and learn from past mistakes and successes.
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"What I want is:
a day when I am not worried about the future,
or thinking about the past."- Autumn Reeser as Elizabeth, Hallmark movie " Always Amore"
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" Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin,
but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what." - Harper Lee (author, To Kill a Mockingbird) https://graciousquotes.com/harper-lee/
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"Comparison is the thief of joy."
- Theodore Roosevelt There are various versions of the above quote, which was originally posted to this forum thread on 10-13-2016. Variations of the quote are attributed to several different people, which seems to indicate that it is a powerful observation, and well worth repeating. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/02/06/thief-of-joy/Comparing your status to others often produces envy and unhappiness. Here are four instances from a family of pertinent adages:
Comparison is the thief of joy.
The thief of joy is comparison.
Comparison is the death of joy.
Comparison is the death of contentment. The article contains several more versions, along with dates ranging from 1855 - 2013. There is even a list of references for this well-researched article. It is a quick read, and a feast of wisdom. Related: This post includes a book summary which suggests: " we should compare ourselves to ourselves and appreciate the progress we have made."
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Many gifted individuals have a fondness for words, ranging from an appreciation for puns, to etymology, to developing a large and varied vocabulary (although not a large part of the SAT for the past decade or so). There several word-of-the-day resources, one of which recently featured the word "apothegm" a term which may apply to a few of the quotations in this thread. WHY THIS WORD?
An apothegm can go by many other names: “maxim,” “motto,” “proverb,” “aphorism,” “catchphrase,” “words of wisdom,” “platitude,” or even “cliché.” But what’s special about an apothegm in particular is that it’s especially pithy and easy to remember. “Haste makes waste,” for example, is a perfect apothegm.
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" Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." - Henry Ford This quote and more, found online at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/henry-ford-quotes
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"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." - Albert Einstein https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/albert_einstein_106192When conducting a web search for this quote, an AI-generated answer popped up: Staying with Problems Longer Albert Einstein’s quote, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer,” highlights the importance of persistence and dedication in solving complex issues. According to Einstein, intelligence is not solely a matter of innate ability, but rather a result of one’s willingness to engage with problems and think critically over an extended period. Key Takeaways Persistence is key: Einstein emphasizes the value of staying with problems longer, implying that the ability to persist in the face of challenges is a crucial aspect of intelligence. Intelligence is not solely innate: Einstein’s quote suggests that intelligence is not solely a product of natural ability, but rather a result of one’s effort and dedication to understanding complex issues. Critical thinking is essential: By staying with problems longer, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of the issue, leading to more effective problem-solving and critical thinking. Implications Developing problem-solving skills: Einstein’s quote encourages individuals to focus on developing their problem-solving skills through persistence and dedication, rather than relying solely on innate ability. Emphasizing effort over talent: This quote highlights the importance of effort and persistence in achieving success, rather than solely relying on natural talent. Applying to various domains: The principles outlined in Einstein’s quote can be applied to various domains, including science, mathematics, art, and other fields where complex problems require critical thinking and persistence. Inspirational Quote Einstein’s quote serves as a reminder that intelligence is not solely a fixed trait, but rather a dynamic process that can be developed through dedication and persistence. It inspires individuals to stay committed to their goals, even in the face of challenges, and to cultivate a growth mindset that values effort and critical thinking. AI-generated answer.
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