"Great minds have purposes; others have wishes." Washington Irving
Thanks for your help!
2006-11-06 10:49:02 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
i think that it means that great minds actually fulfill their dreams, wishes, etc. But other people only wish, they do not have the willpower or the ability to do what they want to.
This is just a guess.
2006-11-06 11:09:41 · answer #1 · answered by BeautifulDevil 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The quote is defining what a great mind is, and what is not a great mind. It says anybody can wish; that's not hard at all. In fact, it's second nature. Great minds intend to make their wish come true. They work towards them, and instead of just dreaming, they live their wishes. For example, Thomas Edison was a great mind because while anybody could wish to improve the lightbulb, he put a lot of work into it, and he did. Another example is how anybody can wish to go to Harvard one day, but a great mind will put the effort into it, and achieve their goal.
2006-11-06 22:28:43 · answer #2 · answered by TheDogStar12 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great minds look for resolutions to problems that effect others as well as themselves. Study the obsticales that would prevent them from reaching their goals and solve or remove them.
Others look at a goal or desire and wish they could achieve it instead of planning a course to reach their goal or or even attempting to give help or to solve a problem.
2006-11-06 19:37:07 · answer #3 · answered by latietee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
great minds try to accomplish their goals, while ordinary people only wish and dream, but never really try to accomplish them.
2006-11-06 19:53:47 · answer #4 · answered by runnerB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
great minds do things and others jsut plan to do nothing. that is the diffrence between the great and the others. so i think thats wat he meant
2006-11-06 19:35:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋