People collect coins and antiques; I collect quotes. A few well-chosen words can contain a book-worth of knowledge. How powerful is that? To me, quotes are simply pocket-sized life lessons! And the best ones do not even need context!
Here are four of my all-time favorite quotes, brief yet powerful:
This is the advice that Nobel Prize laureate Jack Szostak gave to his young student Jennifer Doudna. It led her to pioneer gene-editing research and eventually win her own Nobel Prize. This three-word advice is my favorite reminder to dream big. We have limited time and energy, and we tend to spend them on irrelevant tasks. Only by asking big questions I was able to laser-focus on impactful problems that truly excite me.
The order of words really matters! People often talk too much and take too little action. Even the most talented individual needs to put in the hard work. “One day I will do this” are just empty words. Create your “day one” by taking action. Swap the words, and your mindset will follow along. Start by showing up.
In his original article, this question was asked in the context of climate change. However, I find it extremely handy for countless other situations. For example, whenever I get annoyed, I ponder whether it is worth getting angry. Alternatively, when I feel really tired after long workouts, this quote reminds me why I care about training. This question helps me to choose my battles wisely, and act when it truly matters.
Like his buildings, this quote is as minimalist as it can get. If you can simplify something, change it. If you can finish a task in less time, do it. Focus on few goals. Reduce material possessions. Talk less, listen more. Slow down to go fast. Use common words for complex ideas. Pursue simplicity and efficiency rather than quantity. Less is more.