Timeless wisdom shared

What did Eleanor Roosevelt mean by that? Famous phrases explained

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams": iconic quotes like this inspire us, and "Well done is better than well said" captures an important life lesson. If we keep these words in mind more often, life might be a little easier. Here are 10 famous phrases by remarkable people and what they really mean.

Chores and work pile up for everyone, and the beginning is often the hardest part. But once you do, even with just one tiny task, that’s enough to get you going. Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) was an aeronautical engineer, astronaut, and the first human to set foot on the moon as commander of the Apollo 11 mission.

Spoken on July 20, 1969, these words marked the crowning moment of the U.S. space program during the Cold War. The phrase contrasts the literal step Armstrong was taking with the broader achievement it represented for humanity.

Sometimes we want to motivate others and even ourselves to "think different", as Apple once said, and no one embodied that better than Steven Paul Jobs, more popularly known as Steve Jobs (1955-2011).

He was an influential entrepreneur, industrial designer, and media mogul who co-founded and was the CEO of Apple. Jobs delivered this iconic line during Stanford University’s commencement speech in 2005. Essentially, it is a call to maintain an insatiable curiosity and desire to learn ("stay hungry") and an openness to risks and unconventional ideas without focusing on the possibility of failure ("stay foolish").

How many times have you had a rough day or been through something that made you feel like giving up? This famous quote by Dr. Marguerite Annie Johnson, better known as Maya Angelou (1928-2014), reminds us that true defeat comes when we give up and that resilience helps us get up after every fall. In other words, success isn’t about avoiding failure but about refusing to let it break you.

She was an internationally acclaimed writer, poet, singer, and civil rights activist. She published seven memoirs, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), three books of essays, and several collections of poetry.

Just when we can feel like we are a walking paradox, words have the unique ability to connect opposites. Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) was an American boxer, activist, and one of the most influential sportsmen of the 20th century. He is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and was also known for his poetic flair.

This famous quote brings together his love for language and legendary fighting style. It describes how he moved effortlessly around the ring before delivering his sharp knockout blows.

You’ve probably faced moments of doubt in your life, a trip that seemed impossible to take, or a job that felt out of reach. But there comes a point when we must remember the things we dare to imagine are the blueprints for where we are headed.

That’s exactly what Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) meant by this phrase. The former U.S. First Lady, tireless civil rights advocate, and U.S. delegate to the United Nations was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. She didn’t just write these words; she lived by them. This quote reflects her belief that ordinary people can make a difference if they dare to dream and have the perseverance to act.

Sometimes the most important ideas sound the simplest, but they were once said by people who were so different from the rest that they made difficult ideas seem easy. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was one of these people. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, as well as a politician, scientist, and American inventor.

Franklin’s maxim, published in his Poor Richard’s Almanack (1737), means that taking action and achieving concrete results is much more important than merely talking about things without getting anywhere. Ultimately, it is the 18th-century equivalent of "Actions speak louder than words."

Topics such as foreign policy can seem distant and complex, but Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), an American politician who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909, and vice president in the preceding term, made the idea easier to understand and applicable to everyday life.

This phrase, often cited as a proverb, was popularized by Roosevelt in reference to foreign policy. It means that one should negotiate peacefully and respectfully ("speak softly"), while sustaining a constant and credible threat of power in reserve ("carry a big stick") to back up one’s words.

How often are we afraid to go after what we want? And when we finally do, how many of us are strong enough to keep going and face the challenges ahead? Amelia Earhart (born in 1897, missing since 1937, and declared dead in 1939) was a pioneer in American aviation, having been the first woman to cross the Atlantic nonstop and alone, and the person who said these words.

They remind us that the mental hurdle of starting something new and facing one's fears is often the hardest step. Once you commit, however, overcoming the obstacles that will arise requires determination and endurance.

At times, the most obvious truths are the hardest to explain, but not for Hillary Clinton (born in 1947). She has had an internationally acclaimed career spanning roles as a politician, diplomat, lawyer, and philanthropist. She was the 67th United States Secretary of State, served in the United States Senate, and ran for president in 2008 and 2016.

Her quote was delivered in 1995, when she was First Lady, at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing, China. This iconic statement dismantles the excuse that women’s issues are either cultural or secondary, and instead establishes that protecting women is an essential component of universal human rights.

Another issue that often appears to be complex is the structure of government, but another great American politician, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), who was a lawyer and served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, helped us understand it better.

Lincoln spoke these words in 1863 during the Gettysburg Address, which is considered one of the clearest definitions of American democracy: power derives from the consent of the governed (the people); it is exercised by their representatives (by the people); and it exists there to serve the public welfare (for the people).

Let’s revive them!

Once lost, now found: These 12 forgotten words deserve a revival

Image: Nick Fewings

Since language is constantly evolving and changing, over the years, some truly amazing words have vanished from common use, even though they perfectly describe things we still experience today. Why should we settle for dull modern terms when we could revive these gems? Let’s take a trip through time and rediscover some unusual, long-lost words that are just begging to be used again. You might just find a new favorite!

Image: Omar Lopez

Forget "tipsy" or "sloshed." If you’ve ever seen someone having the time of their life after a few too many drinks, they were rouzy-bouzy.

This 17th-century word describes the kind of lively, uninhibited intoxication that leads to off-key karaoke and questionable dance moves. It comes from an old Dutch word for "boozy," making it a natural fit for those who enjoy a drink every other night. Unlike some less flattering terms for drunkenness, rouzy-bouzy sounds almost celebratory!

Image: Cytonn Photography

No, this isn’t someone with equal skill in both hands. An ambodexter is a person who takes bribes from both sides of an argument. First recorded in the 16th century, this word was a favorite in legal and political circles when describing particularly shady characters.

Today, we would call them "double-crossers" or "sellouts," but doesn’t ambodexter have a more dramatic twist?

Image: Nguyễn Phúc

The next time someone lowers their voice and starts whispering like they’re part of some great conspiracy, you can accuse them of engaging in hugger-mugger.

This term, which dates back to the 16th century, originally referred to secrecy and confusion, perfect for any sneaky dealings or hushed gossip sessions. Now, those who do it might be conspiring against something, but the world sounds quite playful!

Image: Apostolos Vamvouras

Have you ever met someone who applies their makeup with a trowel? Congratulations! You’ve witnessed pargeting in action. This word, which originally referred to decorative plasterwork in architecture, was later used to describe the act of overdoing your makeup.

In an age of contouring and airbrushing, perhaps we should bring back parget, right? A little mascara is fine, but when someone spends three hours sculpting their cheekbones, well… they’re definitely pargetting.

Image: Christin Hume

If someone offers you miracle cures that seem too good to be true, they’re a quacksalver. This wonderfully old-fashioned insult referred to fraudulent healers who claimed to have secret remedies for all ailments.

The word itself combines "quack" (as in a fake doctor) with "salve," a reference to their dubious balms and lotions. While modern medicine has come a long way, quacksalvers are still around today, so watch out and start spreading the word!

Image: Redd Francisco

A percher is someone who’s always trying to climb the social or professional ladder, often with a little too much enthusiasm. The term, which dates back to the 16th century, originally referred to birds perching on higher branches, that’s where its association with people reaching for higher status comes from.

We all know a percher: the one who name-drops important people, angles for promotions, or suddenly becomes best friends with whoever’s in charge. While ambition isn’t a bad thing, there’s a fine line between working hard and perching a little too aggressively!

Image: Afif Ramdhasuma

We’ve all experienced being so shocked or overwhelmed that we couldn’t even form a sentence. If you have, you were awhaped.

This medieval word describes that feeling you get when something absolutely astonishing happens. Originally used for moments that were too terrifying, the word has also been used to describe the kind of surprise that happy moments bring. Awhape is the perfect way to sum up that moment of pure, speechless amazement.

Image: Ruslan Valeev

Back in the days of Old English, if the skies darkened or someone’s mood suddenly changed, people would say things had swerked. This moody little word describes that exact moment when things go from bright and cheerful to stormy and brooding. Considering how many people feel a little swerk when Monday rolls around, this word is just begging for a comeback!

Image: Stefano Pollio

Some things are just downright tremblable, that is, so terrifying, they make you shudder. This long-lost word, which means "causing dread or horror," was once used to describe anything spine-chilling or awe-inspiring.

Picture haunted houses, ghost stories, or even your doctor’s bill, truly tremblable things. It’s got a poetic ring to it, much more dramatic than just calling something "scary." And necessary too, the modern world is a tremblable one, right?

Image: Ben White

A rouker is the kind of person who thrives on hushed conversations and spreading juicy tidbits of information. This word, which dates back to at least the 14th century, refers to someone who whispers or murmurs—often with the intent of stirring up trouble.

We all know a rouker or two, whether it’s that one neighbor who always "just happens" to know everyone’s business or the coworker who mysteriously knows about every office romance. And let’s face it, we’ve all been one at some point!