![]() The conceptual pattern of the aphorism was the same. In 1865 a statement mentioned shooting at the stars instead of the moon. You remember the old saying, Beatrice, “Shoot at the moon and you will hit the top of the highest tree.” If you could not be a genius you may, nevertheless, have made greater progress by the effort to be one. Valentine, Quote, William Tegg & Co., London. In the following excerpt the result of shooting at the moon was not as impressive as landing among the stars nevertheless, it was portrayed as desirable: 1859, “Beatrice or, Six Years of Childhood and Youth” by Mrs. In 1859 an expression of this kind was already labeled an “old saying”. …still George Herbert’s advice on a higher matter is applicable to this, that we had better shoot at the moon if we want to hit a high mark. The following words were credited to George Herbert, and QI hypothesizes that this expression evolved from Herbert’s verse given above: 1846 December, The English Review, Englishwomen of the 17th and 19th Centuries, Start, Quote, Francis & John Rivington, London. In 1846 an instance of this type of guidance suggested that one may not hit the moon but still “hit a high mark”. The advice that one should aim at the moon to achieve something great has been proffered for many years. Shoots higher much, than he that means a tree. Sink not in spirit who aimeth at the sky, Pitch thy behaviour low, thy projects high Herbert contended that one would achieve more by targeting the sky instead of adopting the easier task of aiming at a tree: 1709, “The Temple, Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations” by George Herbert,, The Church-Porch, Start, Quote … Continue reading In the poem “The Church-Porch” a verse exhorted the reader to be humble but also to “aimeth at the sky”. ![]() ![]() Quote Investigator: An important precursor to this collection of sayings was written by the poet and Anglican priest George Herbert who died in 1633. Could you examine this class of quotations? Barnum, Norman Vincent Peale, and others. These types of sayings have been credited to P. I’ll shoot for the stars, and I’ll settle for the moon.If you don’t aim for the stars, you’re not going to get to the moon.Indeed, there is another set of aphorisms that switches the role of the moon and the stars: Hence, hitting a star is actually much more difficult than hitting the sun or moon. Stars (other than the sun) are much farther away from the Earth than the sun or the moon. Modern astronomical knowledge makes the sayings more difficult to interpret. Hence, I think that these adages mean the following: If you set a very difficult goal for yourself then even if you are only partially successful you will find that the result is still superb. The moon and sun are impressive objects in the sky while the stars are less luminous and therefore not as visually striking. If you miss it, you will still land among the stars. If we aim at the moon-we may hit a star!.If I shoot at the sun, I may hit a star.Clement Stone? Ralph Waldo Emerson? Norman Vincent Peale? Les Brown? John McEnroe?ĭear Quote Investigator: There exists a collection of sayings that uses celestial bodies to illustrate advice about setting goals. Barnum? Britney Spears? George Herbert? Jane Russell? W. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |