"Narrative is linear, but action has breadth and depth as well as height and is solid"
- Thomas Carlyle
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Carlyle speaks to the power of action over narrative. Story is direct, meaning it follows a single path, however action has the possible to be a lot more extensive. Action has breadth, implying it can be wide-reaching and impact lots of people. It also has depth, implying it can have a long lasting effect and create meaningful modification. Lastly, action has height, suggesting it can reach excellent heights and have a powerful impact. All of these qualities together make action a strong force that can be utilized to develop significant change. This quote speaks to the power of action and how it can be utilized to create meaningful change on the planet.
"One has children in the expectation of dying before them. In fact, you want to make damn sure you die before them, just as you plant a tree or build a house knowing, hoping that it will outlive you. That's how the human species has done as well as it has"