“Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it”

—  Confucius

The quote "Learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it" is famous quote attributed to Confucius (-551–-479 BC), Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher.

Last update July 19, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Confucius photo
Confucius 269
Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher -551–-479 BC

Related quotes

Gregory Peck photo

“You have to dream, you have to have a vision, and you have to set a goal for yourself that might even scare you a little because sometimes that seems far beyond your reach.”

Gregory Peck (1916–2003) American actor

As quoted in The ArtSlut's Guide to Makin' It — As a Visual Artist‎ (2007) by Barb Benson
Context: You have to dream, you have to have a vision, and you have to set a goal for yourself that might even scare you a little because sometimes that seems far beyond your reach. Then I think you have to develop a kind of resistance to rejection, and to the disappointments that are sure to come your way.

Douglas Bader photo

“If you held your fire until you were very close, you seldom missed.”

Douglas Bader (1910–1982) British World War II flying ace

Mackenzie 2008 p. 39.
Lucas 1981, p. 95.

Rick Warren photo
Booker T. Washington photo

“Most wise men were agreed that it were best
Not to be born, but if that may not be,
Then with the least delay to reach the goal.”

Alexis (-372–-270 BC) Athenian poet of Middle Comedy

Mandragorizomene, Fragment 1, 14.

Zig Ziglar photo
John Wayne photo
George W. Bush photo
Mahatma Gandhi photo

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India

Variant on aphorism "Study as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die tomorrow" pre-dating Gandhi, variously attributed to Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – 636), in FPA Book of Quotations (1952) by Franklin Pierce Adams, to Edmund Rich (1175–1240) in American Journal of Education (1877), or to Alain de Lille in Samuel Smiles's Duty https://books.google.com/books?id=33UzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA363&dq=live+die+tomorrow+learn+forever&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjd3s_2m57MAhWFMGMKHe-sAl8Q6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=live%20die%20tomorrow%20learn%20forever&f=false (1881).
The 1995 book "The good boatman: a portrait of Gandhi," states that Gandhi subscribed "to the view that a man should live thinking he might die tomorrow but learn as if he would live forever."
In his 2010 Boyer lecture Glyn Davis (Professor of Political Science and Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne University) attributes the quote to Desiderius Erasmus. "He [Erasmus] reworked Pliny to urge 'live as if you are to die tomorrow, study as if you were to live forever'. Many students obey the first clause - the best heed both."
There is a similar quote by Johann Gottfried Herder: "Mensch, genieße dein Leben, als müssest morgen du weggehn; Schone dein Leben, als ob ewig du weiletest hier." ["Man, enjoy your life as if you were to depart tomorrow; spare your life as if you were to linger here forever."] (Zerstreute Blätter, 1785).
Disputed

John Wooden photo

“Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.”

John Wooden (1910–2010) American basketball coach

They Call Me Coach (1972)

Related topics