Most ignorant thing ever uttered

Question: Your Daily Inspirations helped keep me alive when I was very despondent, but the following quote [from the November 28 Daily Inspiration] is close to being the most ignorant thing ever uttered. I mean who has reached every goal?

Stride forward with a firm, steady step knowing with a deep,
certain inner knowing that you will reach every goal you set yourselves,
that you will achieve every aim .
- Eileen Caddy

My Answer:

Thank you very much for your email.

1. The greatest value of "inspirational" quotes is getting you thinking.  For more about this, read Inspirational Quotes - Spur for Inquiry

2. The Eileen Caddy quote is about self-confidence and positive thinking.  Try reading it again from that point of view.  Think about a sports team. In reality, even a hugely successful sports team will lose almost as many games as it wins. Yet which locker-room pep talk is likely to produce better results. "Hey guys, we are going to win this game - whatever it takes" or "Hey guys, the odds of our winning this game are only about 60%, so don't get your hopes up."

Positive thinking will let you do everything
better than negative thinking will.
- Zig Ziglar

Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities.
Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers
you cannot be successful or happy.
- Norman Vincent Peale

Further reading: Play to win, but be a good loser


May the world be kind to you, and may your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie