STRUCTURE | Curious Quotes

As we continue in our investigation of Curious Quotes & Universal Themes, we come to STRUCTURE. When I first envisioned creating this series, I thought it would be a relatively easy task. To determine if it would be possible, I did a quick glance for quotes on a few of the Universal Themes and easily found numerous options. It turns out that I did not take into consideration quotes about STRUCTURE. This was a lot harder than I had anticipated. 

Before digging into the set of quotations, think about what structure means to you. Do you have a conception or definition in mind? GOOD! Now, continue to the GENERALIZATIONS. 

How do these generalizations compare to your definition of STRUCTURE? Are are there any PARTS missing in your definition or in this list? What do these generalizations bring to mind? 

When contemplating the theme of STRUCTURE, I first thought of the importance of building on a firm foundation. I set of in search of the source of this quote and landed on this from Saint Augustine. This is actually the final line of a much longer quote. 

"Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation." 

What does the additional text reveal to your understanding? 

Next up, it's a quote from famed inventor Nikola Tesla. Here we see Tesla seated in front of a Tesla coil transformer at his East Houston Street Laboratory in New York City in 1896. What do you SEE in this photo? What questions could you ask about the image? 

Consider the quote. Who or what do you think Tesla may have been talking about? Why do you think he may have said this? 

Third on our list is the quote from management consultant Peter Drucker who has been described as the "founder of modern management". In 1959 he coined the term "knowledge worker". What does that term mean to you? What roles do mission, strategy, and structure play in accomplishing a task? 

I really love the use of blank space on this slide. The image of choreographer Twyla Tharp leaping through the air makes her look as if she is coming in for a landing like a bird. I utilized a thin font to maximize the white space on the slide. 

People often say that creativity is thinking outside of the box. Do you think that Twyla Tharp would agree with that thought? Why is structure required for creativity? 

I searched and searched and search for one final quote to bring STRUCTURE to a close. After stepping away, I came back and found this one from actress and singer, Anna Kendrick. Ever since first seeing her in the Twilight series of films, I have been a fan. In her memoir, Scrappy Little Nobody, Anna Kendrick proclaims the importance of structure versus chaos in her life. I chose this also as an obvious connection to the previous theme of Order VS Chaos. 

How does structure help you thrive? Are you able to stay afloat in a world of chaos? 

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