The world is put back by the death of every one who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts to conventionality.

Meaning of the quote

When people give up their unique talents and abilities to fit in with what everyone else is doing, it holds the world back. Each person has special gifts, and if they don't use them, the world misses out on the progress and new ideas those gifts could have brought. Nightingale believed it's important for people to develop and share their own unique qualities, instead of just following the crowd.

About Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was a pioneering English nurse who revolutionized the nursing profession. She is famous for her work during the Crimean War, where she dramatically improved hygiene and living conditions for wounded soldiers, saving countless lives. Nightingale also established the first secular nursing school and made significant contributions to data visualization and social reform.

More about the author

More quotes from Florence Nightingale

The world is put back by the death of every one who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts to conventionality.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital that it should do the sick no harm.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

I have lived and slept in the same bed with English countesses and Prussian farm women… no woman has excited passions among women more than I have.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

Women have no sympathy and my experience of women is almost as large as Europe.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

She said the object and color in the materials around us actually have a physical effect on us, on how we feel.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)

How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.

Florence Nightingale

English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820-1910)