Brevity
The Power of the Pithy Phrase
13 quotes that prove less can be more
The power of pithy phrases is their extraordinary ability to leave a lasting impression in a matter of seconds. Like shooting stars, they disappear in a flash but their impact remains far longer.
From Alice Walker to Seneca, here are thirteen brilliantly brief quotes to illuminate your life.
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any — Alice Walker
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will — Suzy Kassem
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is illusion of knowledge — Stephen Hawking
The desire to write grows with writing — Erasmus
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud — Maya Angelou
Normality is a paved road: it’s comfortable to walk but no flowers grow — Vincent van Gogh
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage — Anais Nin
Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats — Voltaire
If you want to be loved, be lovable — Ovid
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent — Eleanor Roosevelt
Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) — René Descartes
It is never too late to be what you might have been — George Eliot
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity — Seneca
I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter
— Blaise Pascal
Natalie Carroll recently wrote about why we should all be minimalists. In her insightful article, she referenced Marie Kondo, the Japanese organising consultant who has become a sensation in the West.
We should all be more appreciative of what we have. An unhealthy obsession with personal gain can cause anxiety and unhappiness. This can be applied to different cultures, as well as material possessions:
I have loved discovering Sandra Szubert’s writing on Medium. This powerful line from her letter to the lone wolf resonated with me:
I love the way you guide — because you’ve been guiding yourself all along.
Finally, Charlotte Zobeir Ali’s poems are always inspiring. Here is a minimalistic and moving poem about the Black Lives Matter movement:
