Change Quote by wildbow
““Not all journeys have destinations. Power is the ability to effect change, and people who create change ride that tide, with far-reaching effects. For some of us, that’s something we’re born into. Our fathers or mothers instill us with a hunger for it from a very early point in time. We’re raised on it, always striving to be the top, in academics, in sports, in our careers. Then we either run into a dead-end, or we face diminishing returns.” “Less and less results for the same amount of effort,” Grue said. “Others of us are born with nothing. It is hard to get something when you don’t have anything. You can’t make money until you have money. The same applies to contacts, to success, to status. It’s a chasm, and where you start is often very close to where you finish. The vast majority never even move from where they began. Of the few that do make it, many are so exhausted by the time they meet some success that they stop there. And others, a very small few, they make that drive for success, that need to climb becomes a part of themselves. They keep climbing, and when someone like Accord recognizes them and offers them another road to climb, they accept without reservation.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Stormlight Archive, 2010
Success often depends on initial advantages; those born with resources or drive may ascend, while others face steep barriers and may plateau despite effort.
In simple terms: Starting point heavily influences outcomes; perseverance alone may not suffice.
Identify and address systemic barriers to equity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career planning
- education policy
- entrepreneurship
- mentoring programs
- social welfare design
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What structural changes could level the playing field?
- How can individuals leverage limited resources effectively?
Not everyone has equal access to capital or networks, limiting upward mobility.