Thinking more deeply about simple quotes

How could a simple quote let you think more deeply? To answer this question, I decided to share some of my favorite quotes and ask other students which quote they liked the most, how they relate it to their life, and their opinions on it. Each quote I chose is a kind of a suggestion to live in a better way, and it motivates you to start to do something, like Mandela's quote, or it sheds light on things that you wouldn’t notice, like Aristotle's quote. In my opinion, the points the quotes make could be obvious, but we should stop and think about these types of quotes more often and also try to apply them in real life because their meaning might not be as obvious as we think.

1. “Memento audere semper [remember always to dare].” Gabriele d’Annunzio

Caio Brown: I really like this quote! I like it because if we don't push ourselves and step out of our comfort zones we will never make any big accomplishments in life. The best things are never achieved by staying put; they are achieved by throwing yourself out there and trying new things and shooting for bigger and better goals! As students, we can all relate to a time we tried to do something new, and it worked out or led to bigger and better things. I also like it because it's in a different language, so I learned something new with it!

Max Murphy: By never trying anything new, you will never grow as a person. I used to hate my vegetables (like every 5 year old) and my mom one day brought home this strange green object (Romanesco). It grows in a fractal and looks like something from another planet. Anyways I tried it because I loved outer space, and it was really good, but it really just tastes like the stems of broccoli. By daring to try something new, the Romanesco, I now would eat my broccoli.

2. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela

Shayna Green: I’m in ACE, and last year during the college concert, Ms. Yoon had us play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Preparing for it was pretty daunting because that’s essentially college/professional repertoire, and we only had I think a little over two months to prepare for it. Although I’ve been playing cello since 4th grade, I wasn’t too committed to it until that year, so overall it was kind of nerve-racking. I think it ended up being a really good concert though, and it’s definitely helped me become a better musician

Zach Benton: This quote reveals a powerful truth to me: whatever your dreams are, don't stop pursuing them because they seem too far-fetched. It's so important not to give up on something with this mindset, especially if it hasn't even started. Imagine achieving a goal and looking back on the work you put into getting there. Giving up on the goal means never experiencing that sense of accomplishment.

3. "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." Walt Disney

Micha Nenbee: I love this quote, and I think it can relate to the times we are in now and specifically to quarantining and how people sometimes don't have the motivation to do the things that they want to do in life because they are scared or don't know where to begin, but if we do start getting up and accomplishing things in life it will give us a head start and help us achieve more than we ever thought we could.

Auden Bown: This quote resonates with me because this is the only way to get things done. It reminds me of the quote: "Well begun is half done". I find that oftentimes, I am too worried about doing quality work on a project so it is very hard for me to begin. But, if you stop talking about it and stop worrying, then you can make actions towards your goals and projects. Once you have begun doing, you will be finished before you know it.

4. "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." Aristotle

Maddy Eatchel: I love this idea. I truly believe in the power of positivity, but people don't usually understand what I mean when I say that. I don't mean that we should all be happy all of the time because sometimes life sucks. Sometimes you keep getting dealt terrible hands, and it's ok to be upset about what's happening to or around you. But it's also important to teach yourself that even those hard moments, the ones when you're terrified you might not make out, that there is still good around you. I think this quote explores the importance of fighting for your own happiness and well-being. Because true happiness comes from learning how to take care of yourself even when the world around you is falling apart.

Maddy Frech: I think this quote is very pertinent to our chaotic reality. Not only is the world facing a global pandemic, but we are also seeing greater polarization, hate, and destruction. However, like Aristotle says, rather than focusing on these "dark moments," we can find greater relief and joy in focusing on the "light" in our lives, whether that stems from more time with family, finding a new hobby/talent, or something else. I think this quote points to how conversations and relationships built on positivity and "light" can redirect the negativity (or "darkness") that we encounter in our lives on a daily basis, especially this year.

Madeleine Gee: I really love the empowering and inspiring nature of this quote. It provides a really interesting perspective on how we may view our lowest moments. When we might focus only on the bad and dwell on it, this quote asks us to try and see our situations in a new light. We are asked to try and take something constructive away from our negative experiences and with that create a moment of empowerment rather than defeat.

5. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

Sarah Wahlen: I think in a world of social media the trends with body, clothes, a personality, are very present. This quote shows the importance of individuality and allows a light in that constant pressure. Oscar Wilde was definitely a trail blazer with his unique writing styles and lifestyle, and this quote reflects it.

Amanda Green: This saying has always resonated with me because I believe that every person is who they are for a reason and shouldn’t change for anyone or anything. If everyone was always trying to be someone else, society wouldn’t be filled with brilliant doctors, writers, artists, teachers, etc. Individualism is a quality I find the most important because your physical appearance, emotions, and ideas are all uniquely your own, and that is something that no one can take from you. The more time we spend trying to be someone else, the less we are able to figure out who we are.

Zach Benton: I find it so important not to get swept up in what or who other people think you should be. What's the point of following someone else's path? That has already been done—I want to be myself, be an individual, and find self-sufficiency. Although it's great to look up to someone inspiring, we also need to keep in mind that we should still be ourselves.

6. Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.” Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Caio Brown: This quote is soooo powerful!! The biggest thing that holds people back in most situations is the fear of making a mistake. Experience is a word that has a positive connotation, and comparing that word to the word “mistake” brings a whole new light onto that term. This quote even makes me think about my own life differently, and it is something that I'll think about every time I take a chance. I also think this quote goes hand in hand with the idea of trying new things, which really resonates with me.

Grace Smith: I think that this quote is an important way to put our challenges and struggles into perspective. This year has been difficult, and I often feel as though the bad experiences outweigh the good. This quote helps us take a step back and realize how essential mistakes are to who we become. Our experience is not just built through the “good” things that happen to us, but also how we deal with the “bad” things and try to find the good.

Auden Bown: I really like the perspective on mistakes this quote brings. Mistakes are a natural part of life, especially for people like me, but making mistakes is what allows you to improve and make fewer mistakes in the future. The best way to avoid making a particular mistake is to make that mistake a few times, so you know where you went wrong. That's what experience is. All our teachers are correct when they say to not be afraid of making mistakes, because it is an important part of the learning process.

7. “Sometimes a man must fight so hard for life that he doesn't have time to live it.” Charles Bukowski

Maddy Eatchel: I think we're seeing this in our country right now with COVID19. Healthcare workers are constantly caring for the health and wellbeing of other people and our country/society as whole. They are risking everything to do what's right. They give up being with their loved ones to keep them safe; they sometimes give up sleep and meals so that they can continue to work. Especially now, as cases rise and hospitals are above their maximum capacity, they are constantly stressed and scared. To me, when someone is sacrificing so much of themselves, it's not truly living.

Zach Baughman: I think that this quote is very powerful to give us a sense of appreciation for what is going on around us now. Before COVID everyone had sports or some sort of activity after school, but now everyone has a chance to slow down and enjoy the little things around us. Typically we are all fighting hard and focused on one thing, and pushing to achieve it no matter what. This was a norm for society, but I think that Bukowski is trying to go against this idea and tell everyone to enjoy everything around them because you only live once.

8. Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

Summer Connery: I love this quote and think it is particularly important, especially during the times in which we are living. I think it clearly emphasizes the importance of each person's voice, and how each person has a right to their own values and opinions. This quote does a great job adding that each person has the power to change the world and influence it based on their beliefs, which is a very powerful thing. (As I said earlier, this is particularly applicable during these times given events such as the election, COVID, etc.)

From putting these together, I mostly learned how a point of view could change from one person to another and how everyone relates quotes to their lives, which I really found interesting. For example, Bukowski’s quote: Zach Baughman related it to COVID-19, and it’s true; I totally agree with him. But I think that also without COVID, people pretend to have more than they have, and usually they don't even appreciate it until they lose it. On the other hand, I really appreciated how Shayna shared a moment that was really important in her life, and I think it’s the perfect story for Mandela’s quote. I really found it interesting to interview different students and understand their different opinions. I can definitely say that all of the students who commented on the quotes reflected really deeply and in gathering these reflections from students, I'm struck by how philosophical Rowland Hall students are. If I'd asked this of my friends in Italy, answers would likely have been shorter and more superficial, which speaks to the intellectual energy here at Rowland Hall."