By: Timothy Moon

   “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

   “The early bird gets the worm.”

   “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

   These sayings are heard everywhere, in graduation speeches, social media posts, and especially at the start of a new year. As January begins and New Year’s resolutions begin to form, many turn to these familiar quotes for hope and motivation. Although for students at Marriotts Ridge, the question remains: do these clichés even mean anything, or have they lost their impact?

   For many, they stand as a reminder to improve themselves and stay motivated, while to others, they are believed to be overused and meaningless. While the former of these two is often seen as pessimistic and gloomy, the latter provides quite an interesting conversation about hope, change, and personal growth.

   Junior Dharmik Bhavani believes that even if people don’t actively think of these quotes, they still influence behavior. “I feel inspired,” Bhavani said. “I believe that it is like a subconscious thing, and they play a little role in my actions and decisions. You have heard these things from millions of people, so I do not think it’s about the person who says it but the person who hears it.” For Bhavani, sayings like “no good deed goes unnoticed” motivate him to do upstanding things, even if their effects aren’t immediate.

   Senior Logan Woo shared a more skeptical point of view on common sayings, “It’s a little overused,” Woo said. “I think they do have meaning if you really apply them, but I don’t think people take them seriously anymore,” he explains how they do have deeper ideas and stories they want to tell, but their impact has faded over time. The idea that something that is supposed to motivate millions is only a few words seems redundant. Furthermore, they are repeated so often, telling a person to strike an iron when hot will rarely spark motivation unless the person is in the right mindset. “If everyone says ‘early bird gets the worm,’ then it doesn’t mean much,” Woo said. Instead of relying on quotes, he believes that his own personal conviction is what he relies on, especially when it comes to setting goals and reflecting at the start of the new year.

   Despite mixed reactions, sayings and proverbs have existed for thousands of years.  Some of the first proverbs were created in Ancient Sumeria in the text called The Instructions of Shuruppak. One proverb states, “He who possesses much silver may be happy; he who possesses much barley may be happy; but he who has nothing at all can sleep.” Even centuries ago, people were using unique writing to reflect on life, fulfillment, and what truly matters. While modern sayings reference what many find in an omelet and are an interesting reflection of society, their core message of perseverance and balance still reflects what dates back years and years.

   The start of the new year often brings renewed motivation, and for many students, these sayings tie closely to New Year’s resolutions. Whether it is getting that membership at Planet Fitness, asking their crush out, finishing their bucket list, or even reducing their screen time after a year of doomscrolling. Students often set goals for themselves with optimism, even if they do not finish them. Some students admit that they stop their resolutions because they lose motivation, get overwhelmed, or feel pressured to change too quickly. Still, others say that quotes and sayings help them reset when motivation fades. Phrases like “You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs” remind students how failure is a part of progress, and they should view their failures as more of a new challenge.

   Whether taken seriously or brushed off as clichés, these sayings continue to exist because they reflect shared human experiences. As the new year unfolds, students only have 11 more months ahead of them. Now, they can either interpret them as hope and motivation for their endeavors or just pass them off as background noise. 

   After all, a quote only has power if someone chooses to listen.