Quotes

Young people need guidance. Although many of them would not admit this, they all know that having a word of advice from their parents, teachers or role models could make their lives so much easier and keep them away from mistakes that others have gone through. There are so many people who choose the wrong path in life only because they did not have the help they needed at the right time or just because they did not listen.

The human mind can be very stubborn when it clings to old perspectives and beliefs. This happens because these beliefs are susceptible to a series of cognitive biases, also known as distorted patterns of thinking. These can hinder our knowledge and learning of how the world works. Also because of these biases, we ignore useful information or advice that could make our lives easier. If we hear information that is helpful, but which does not fit into our worldview, we will reject it to keep the older belief. So instead of learning some useful and new we choose to protect our self-esteem and egos.

Sometimes, we choose not to listen from the ones around us but find words of wisdom in what we read, whether it is a book, an interview in a magazine or a quote. There are many writers who, with their words of wisdom, have changed the world for the better. Writing something powerful can motivate, inspire, change minds and lives and even change history. Writers express their ideas, thoughts, feelings and creativity giving other people a sense of usefulness and renewal for themselves and the world we live in.

There are many wise quotes from writers that we can use as a compass for our lives and from which young people could learn how to live their lives.

1. “My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.” A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam or A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India. He is known for his inspiring thoughts and his ideas to make India an even greater country. He encouraged young people to have the courage to think differently, to invent, to discover new things, to travel and to conquer problems. Young people should not be afraid of the new, of failing and of trying again. This is what helps them develop and gain knowledge that they can share with others.

2. “There are direct paths to a successful career. But there are plenty of indirect paths, too. So many young people I speak to nowadays think that the only way to get to such a career is the direct path, but that really only makes sense in certain circumstances.” Clayton Christensen

Clayton Magleby Christensen is an American scholar, business consultant, educator, author and religious leader. What he is trying to tell young people is that sometimes there is a direct path to reach your goal, but other times you have to struggle and overcome obstacles, to fall and then get up and keep going. No matter how hard your path might be, keep fighting.

3. “When I hear young people today complain about being bored – and the things that keep them from being bored are generally exclusively video games and/or computer pastimes – I just try to encourage them to go outside.” Nick Offerman

Nicholas “Nick” Offerman is an American actor, producer, director, screenwriter, author, musician and stand-up comedian. What he is trying to say is that young people these days have so many ways to spend their time and they still get bored. What they should do is go outside, meet new people, breathe some fresh air, do some sports and have some fun with their friends. This is so easy to do, yet more and more teenagers choose to stay in the house in front of the TV, their laptops or phones and let life pass by.

4. “I believe without a single shadow of a doubt that it is necessary for young people to learn to make choices. Learning to make right choices is the only way they will survive in an increasingly frightening world.” Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry is an American writer, who has published more than 30 children’s books. She encourages young people not to rely on the others to tell them what to do, but to learn how to make their own choices. Taking advice is very useful, but you should learn how to put it in practice and how to benefit from it. Do not wait for others to show you the direction in which to go and what to do. The world is filled with people with wrong intentions, who do not want to see you succeed. That is why you have to be independent and trust your guts.

5. “We are all creative, but by the time we are three of four years old, someone has knocked the creativity out of us. Some people shut up the kids who start to tell stories. Kids dance in their cribs, but someone will insist they sit still. By the time the creative people are ten or twelve, they want to be like everyone else.” Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights, activist. She always thought that people are creative when they are born, but this creativity fades away under the norms of the society. She tells young people to believe in themselves and be unique, to express their creativity and make it grow. Being in line with the rest of the people is not necessarily a good thing. Creativity is what sets you apart and what makes you see the world in a different perspective.

Writers were never afraid to speak their mind, that is why many of their quotes will stay true to the generations to come. They see the world is a different way, that is why writers were the ones to shape important changes all over the world.

About the author:

Samantha Anderson studies education and works as a tutor. She practices her teaching skills by writing papers for writing service WriteMyPaper.Today

Positive Words Research – 5 Wise Quotes From Writers For Youth