We all possess wisdom that we lack the strength properly to enact in our lives.

—Alain de Botton in Religion for Atheists

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About Alain de Botton

Portrait of Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton (; born 20 December 1969) is a British author and public speaker. His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. He published Essays in Love (1993), which went on to sell two million copies. Other bestsellers include How Proust Can Change...

More quotations from Alain de Botton

Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet.

—Alain de Botton

It's great when you finally realize that being miserable doesn't protect you from bad stuff happening.

—Alain de Botton

pessimism sadness miserable

You get down to work when the fear of having done nothing finally exceeds the fear of doing it wrong.

—Alain de Botton

fear accomplishment error work

One rarely falls in love without being as much attracted to what is interestingly wrong with someone as what is objectively healthy.

—Alain de Botton

love perfection imperfection health

The prestige of the news is founded on the unstated assumption that our lives are forever poised on the verge of critical transformation thanks to the two driving forces of modern history: politics and technology.

—Alain de Botton in Religion for Atheists

news rapid change politics technology

More quotations tagged with “strength”

A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity.

—Jimmy Carter

strength weakness USA boasting insecurity restraint

The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.

—Tahereh Mafi in Shatter Me

strength knowledge self moon steadfast

We're told that men are strong and brave, but I think women know how to endure, accept defeat, and bear physical and mental agony much better than men.

—Lisa See in Shanghai Girls

strength women men bravery

Strength is not in the body, it's in the mind. It doesn't lie in flexing your muscles and crushing those who oppose you. It lies in being the last one standing.

—Leah Raeder in Black Iris

mind strength endurance

Sometimes you have to endure painful things to realize that you're a whole lot stronger than you think.

—Jenn Bennett in Approximately

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History

14 Nov 2012 Added
8 Dec 2014 Edited (details weren’t recorded yet)