By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
The process of navigating the journeys of our lives is often symbolized by sailing on a stormy sea as the wind and the waves whip around us. Just as the wind can be either an obstacle or a support based on a sailor’s skill, so can our circumstances either hinder or help us depending on how we choose to view and respond to them. The 18th-century historian and author Edward Gibbon recounts a battle determined by wind in his astounding six-volume work, “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” During the siege of Constantinople, “a squadron [of] five stout and lofty ships” sailed by “skillful pilots … long practiced at the perils of the sea” set out to rescue the city. Heavy-laden with supplies and faced with bountiful cannons and artillery, the sailors used their deftness and resilience to turn their obstacles to their advantage, which led to their success. As Gibbon points out, sometimes our greatest strength is simply our resolve to ride through the rough waters of life and just keep sailing as best we know how.
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Truman Capote
13 Funny Quotes About New Year’s Resolutions
13 Hilarious Lines From History’s Funniest Poets
Create the Life You Desire With These 14 Transformative Quotes
14 Quotes on the Meaning of Racial Equity
12 Quotes Every People-Pleaser Should Read
14 Quotes Guaranteed To Make You Crave Chocolate
12 Quotes To Help Improve Your Emotional Intelligence
10 Quotes From People Who’ve Survived Tragedy
19 Quotes To Keep You Hopeful
The Best Lyrics To Come Out of the British Invasion