Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations.
Meaning
Small actions matter as much as big ones.
Share image
Preview of the image used when this quote is shared on social networks.
About the author
Why This Quote Matters
Orison Swett Marden brings Life back to something ordinary, which is exactly the point. Nothing about it is abstract once you accept that Small actions matter as much as big ones.
Keep it nearby for the moments when the easier path looks tempting. Small and steady beats sudden and short-lived, every time.
How to Apply This Quote in Life
Instead of a resolution, try a single rule tied to Life for seven days. Let context do some of the work: change the room, the time, or the trigger.
Let the quote be a filter: say yes to what strengthens Life, no to what erodes it. One step, repeated, is the entire strategy.
Related quotes
-
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
Meaning: It highlights influence of behavior. -
“Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.”
Meaning: True freedom lies in how individuals respond to circumstances. Even when situations are imposed, one still has the power to choose their reaction. -
“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without.”
Meaning: It highlights vulnerability in love. -
“The place in which I'll fit will not exist until I make it.”
Meaning: This emphasizes self-creation. -
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
Meaning: Le Guin highlights that experiences along the way are more important than the destination itself. Growth happens during the process. -
“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty.”
Meaning: Le Guin suggests that uncertainty is not a flaw but a fundamental part of existence. It creates possibilities, growth, and change, making life dynamic and meaningful. -
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
Meaning: This highlights the true cost of things in terms of time and effort. -
“The present is not a potential past; it is the moment of choice and action.”
Meaning: The present moment is where decisions are made and life unfolds. It should not be seen as something that will only matter later, but as the most important time for action. -
“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”
Meaning: Actions are more powerful than words.