Big things Quote by Will Durant
““we want to seize the value and perspective of passing things, and so to pull ourselves up out of the maelstrom of daily circumstance. We want to know that the little things are little, and the big things big, before it is too late; we want to see things now as they will seem forever-"in the light of eternity." We want to learn to laugh in the face of the inevitable, to smile even at the looming of death. We want to be whole, to coordinate our energies by criticizing and harmonizing our desires; for coordinated energy: is the last word in ethics and politics, and perhaps in logic and metaphysics too.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant, 1926
The passage urges recognizing the scale of events, embracing mortality, and aligning desires through critique and harmony to achieve ethical coordination.
In simple terms: See big and little things clearly, accept death, harmonize desires.
Key Takeaway
Align actions with deeper purpose.
Themes
ethics
philosophy
existence
humor
coordination
Mood
reflective
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
humorous
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership
- decision making
- stress coping
- team dynamics
Key Concepts
metaphysics
politics
logic
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you distinguish essential from trivial?
- What practices help you laugh at inevitable outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Balancing critique and harmony can be difficult in practice.
