“We had old architects and were working with what we had on hand. You’ve hired this new, young architect now, and, Pericles, I’m going to build you a statue of Athena—all gold and ivory, think of that, Pericles—and taller than our city walls.” Pericles raised his eyes toward the birds.”
— Yvonne Korshak
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Are we building monuments we can actually live in, or are we just chasing gold and ivory dreams? Yvonne Korshak reminds us of the delicate dance between youthful ambition and grounded reality with this striking scene: 'We had old architects and were working with what we had on hand. You’ve hired this new, young architect now, and, Pericles, I’m going to build you a statue of Athena—all gold and ivory, think of that, Pericles—and taller than our city walls.' Pericles raised his eyes toward the birds.' How do you balance big dreams with practical life? Drop your thoughts below! 👇
About this quote
In life, we often find ourselves caught between the practical comfort of 'what we have on hand' and the dazzling, sometimes intimidating allure of grand new ambitions. Yvonne Korshak’s quote brilliantly captures that pivotal moment when modest beginnings collide with extravagant visions of the future. Pericles looking up toward the birds isn't just a physical gesture; it's a profound metaphor for the human tendency to gaze dreamily at the impossible while standing firmly amidst the rubble of reality. It reminds us that progress requires daring to dream beyond the walls we've built for ourselves, even when those dreams demand a complete transformation of our landscape. Yet, this poignant imagery also serves as a gentle caution about the weight of our ambitions. Gold and ivory statues tower over daily life, but true fulfillment isn't always found in reaching higher than the city walls or chasing perpetual reinvention. Sometimes, the wisdom lies in balancing the youthful urge to build monuments with the grounded appreciation of what is already ours. When life tempts us with towering expectations, we must remember to pause, look up like Pericles, and ask ourselves whether we are building for legacy, or simply losing touch with the ground beneath our feet.
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Photo by Eyüpcan Timur on Pexels
