Values Quotes – William Cowper on Variety
Welcome to Values Quotes. I’m Robert Ferguson.
Today’s quote is from William Cowper, an English poet and writer of hymns from the 16th century.
A well-known quote from Cowper is:
“Variety’s the spice of life, that gives it all it’s flavor.”
You likely know the shortened version: “Variety is the spice of life.” But both speak to the value of variety.
As a differentiating value, Variety means noticeable heterogeneity (or diversity); assortment; or a difference that is usually pleasant.
This can be applied in multiple ways. For instance:
- It’s nice to have a diverse group of friends, each with their different opinions and viewpoints. It helps to keep you grounded and real.
- It’s healthy to have an assortment of interests. It makes you more interesting to others.
- And it’s beneficial to expose oneself to different experiences. It’s where new ideas are generated and where you get an appreciation for what you already have.
A great place to explore the benefits of variety is in vacation planning. Yes, some people choose to vacation in the same spot every year. But really interesting people always choose something new and different. While this might sound a bit risky, it’s what adds flavor to life.
Today’s value was selected from the “Diversity-Flexibility” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Values.
