God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention.

God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention.

Mark Twain

This quote uses the metaphor of thunder and lightning to illustrate the concept of rarity creating value or attention. Here, God’s thunder and lightning symbolize any event or action that is powerful and awe-inspiring but occurs infrequently. Because these events are not constant, they command attention whenever they occur. If thunder and lightning were an everyday occurrence, they would lose their awe-inspiring quality and become mundane.

In the context of personal development, this quote can be interpreted as a call for individuals to exhibit their unique talents or abilities sparingly, so as to maintain their impact and value. If one constantly showcases their skills or talents, they may risk oversaturation, causing others to lose interest or appreciation.

Applying this to today’s world, it can be seen in the way we consume media. With the advent of the internet, we have a constant stream of information and entertainment at our fingertips. This constant availability can sometimes lead to oversaturation, where even the most extraordinary events or talents can become mundane or uninteresting because they are always available. This can lead to a lack of appreciation for truly exceptional events or talents when they do occur.

In both personal development and societal contexts, the quote is a reminder of the power of rarity and the importance of not taking things for granted. It encourages us to appreciate the extraordinary, to recognize the value in the rare and to not allow the constant stream of information and entertainment to dull our appreciation for the truly exceptional.

Created with ❤️ | ©2025 HiveHarbor | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer| Imprint | Opt-out Preferences

 

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?