Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?" The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."" I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man. To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die." Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference! " At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one. . Loren Eiseley
About This Quote

As we age, we become more and more aware of the large impact we have on the world around us. It’s not just about what we say or do; it’s about how we live. The idea of giving back is very important to me and I always try to give without expecting anything in return. Giving is a way of life and it’s something that must be done for both our own benefit and for the benefit of others.

Giving is an opportunity to work hard and use our gifts in a positive way. Giving can also strengthen relationships and create friendships with those who share our values and beliefs.

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More Quotes By Loren Eiseley
  1. The ultimate goal of humanity is knowledge.

  2. A smart person speaks out the truth. A wise person doesn't care about speaking it out, as much as he or she cares about utilizing that truth in the society, in a way that brings most progress, in a way that brings most human development....

  3. Smartness without wisdom is stupidity.

  4. I am an advocate of godliness, not of god.

  5. Nature deemed God worthy and hence chose it as her slave to serve the humans appearing as the master.

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