When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: "Only stand out of my light." Perhaps someday we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light.

—John W. Gardner

creativity light

About John W. Gardner

Portrait of John W. Gardner

John William Gardner (October 8, 1912 – February 16, 2002) was US Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under Lyndon Johnson. He was a strong advocate for citizen participation and founded Common Cause; he became known as "the father of campaign finance reform".

More quotations from John W. Gardner

We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.

—John W. Gardner

History never looks like history when you are living through it.

—John W. Gardner

When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: 'Only stand out of my light.' Perhaps some day we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light.

—John W. Gardner

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

—John W. Gardner

life art drawing

More quotations tagged with “light”

In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better.

—Ellen DeGeneres

God creation light nothing beginning

The poet lights the light and fades away. But the light goes on and on.

—Emily Dickinson

To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds and watch their renewal of life—this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do.

—Charles Dudley Warner

light farming delight growing agriculture

How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.

—John Burroughs

beauty age light color

You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in.

—Arlo Guthrie

History

20 Dec 2014 Added