“President Obama has said that our aspirations should be realistic. We are not going to turn one of the poorest countries in the world, that was plunged into 30 years of war, into an advanced, industrialized, Western-style democracy. What we want to achieve is Afghanistan's capacity to secure and govern itself.” WorldWantShouldYearsSaidWarCountryTurnsPresidentDemocracyAchieveStyleCapacityWesternSecureAspirationRealisticAfghanistanPresident ObamaPoorest Author:David Petraeus
“Though they themselves might be as surprised as their parents and teachers to hear it said, adolescents--these poignantly thin- skinned and vulnerable, passionate and impulsive, starkly sexual and monstrously self-absorbed creatures--are, in fact, avid seekers of moral authenticity. They wish above all to achieve some realistic power over the real world in which they live while at the same time remaining true to their values and ideals.” WorldSaidRealSelfFactsMightValuesWishParentMoralTeacherAchieveCreaturesIdealsPassionateAuthenticityVulnerableRealisticReal WorldAdolescenceSeekersImpulsiveSelf AbsorbedAvidParents And Teachers Author:Louise J. Kaplan
“We have to be realistic about what we can achieve in Afghanistan. The notion that the United States can build a Western-style democracy there is a myth” StatesUnitedUnited StatesDemocracyAchieveStyleWesternNotionMythRealisticAfghanistan Author:Barbara Boxer
“Set goals for yourself and put actionable steps in place to ensure that you achieve them. Whether you aim to get a promotion at work or set up your very own business, these ideas will only remain dreams until you write plan out how you are going to reach them by writing down realistic steps towards hitting your targets.” WritingIdeasDreamGoalStepsPlansAchieveAimTargetRealisticHittingPromotionSetting GoalsOwn Business Author:Kelly Hoppen
“Boris Nemtsov and I began to argue after Putin's return to the presidency in 2012. In my opinion, there was no longer a realistic chance to achieve regime change through peaceful political means, or real elections. Boris, on the other hand, never lost this hope. He felt that my assessment was premature and said: "You have to live a long time to see changes in Russia." He was deprived of that opportunity.” MeanLongSaidRealHandsPoliticalOpportunityLostFeltChanceOpinionAchieveReturnLong TimeElectionArguingRussiaPeacefulRealisticRegimesPresidencyDeprivedPutinAssessmentPrematureRegime Change Author:Garry Kasparov
“It is not realistic or hard-headed to solve problems and take action unguided by ultimate moral aims and values, although we all know some who claim that it is so. In my judgement, it is thoughtless folly. For it ignores the realities of human faith and of passion and of belief; forces ultimately more powerful than all the calculations of our economists or of our generals. Of course to adhere to standards, to idealism, to vision in the face of immediate dangers takes great courage and takes self-confidence. But we also know that only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly.” KnowsHumansSelfProblemRealityActionFacesValuesPassionCoursesBeliefForcePowerfulMoralVisionFailingAchieveDangerJudgmentStandardsUltimateClaimsAimDareSolveSelf ConfidenceFollyRealisticIdealismEconomistCalculations Author:Robert Kennedy
“Flow is the process of achieving happiness through control over one's inner life. The optimal state of inner experience is order in consciousness. This happens when we focus our attention (psychic energy) on realistic goals and when our skills match the challenges we face.” StatesHappensFacesOrderEnergyProcessGoalChallengesAttentionConsciousnessFocusAchieveSkillsFlowRealisticPsychicsInner LifeOptimalChallenges We FaceRealistic GoalsAchieving Happiness Author:Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
“It's lonely at the top. Ninety-nine percent of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre. The level of competition is thus fiercest for "realistic" goals, paradoxically making them the most time-consuming and energy consuming. It is easier to raise $10,000,000 than it is $1,000,000. It is easier to pick up the one perfect 10 in the bar than the five 8s.” PeopleWorldEnergyGoalPerfectLevelsFiveAchieveEasierPicksPercentLonelyAimRaisesCompetitionConvincedNineBarsGreat ThingsRealisticIncapableMediocreNinetyConsumingNinety NineTime ConsumingRealistic GoalsLonely At The Top Author:Tim Ferriss
“Realism is important in foreign policy. You have to be realistic about what you can achieve, and about the pitfalls, and problems along the way, of which there are plenty. Nothing is easy. It's always rough.” WayImportantProblemEasyAchievePolicyPlentyRoughRealisticForeign PolicyRealismPitfallsNothing Is Easy Author:Daniel Fried