Lean Quote: Live as If You Were to Die Tomorrow—Learn as If You Were to Live Forever

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." — Mahatma Gandhi

This inspirational quote from Gandhi can change one’s life. The meaning behind this quote is to make the most of every day and to take advantage of the learning opportunities in your life.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow: Don't postpone life-enriching experiences, by making excuses like I can do that next year when I have more time - because without a sense of urgency you will probably end up not doing them at all. Live in the moment and be present in what you are doing.

Learn as if you were to live forever: Never say no to yourself. When you start learning something new it must be with the aim of eventual perfection, not for short-term gains. Learning should never stop; there is always more to be learn on a subject, if you dig deeper into it.

Knowledge is one of the many keys to leading a successful life. The more I know the more likely I am to succeed. I devote time to learn every day, to continue expanding my knowledge. Knowledge provides both a sense of ability and a pathway to success for the future. Learning does not occur in a single period of our lives, but continues throughout them. One could lead a better life by obtaining knowledge to its full potential.

Don’t postpone learning, do it today rather than tomorrow, for even the littlest of matters you learn adds to our collective knowledge. It may seem to you, at times, like no more than a tiny little drop—but then, even the great oceans are made of many tiny little drops, aren’t they?