“I never lose an opportunity of…” — Florence Nightingale · ToDoMatriX

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Perseverance and resilience

I never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.

— Florence Nightingale (1820–1910), Letter to a friend, quoted in The Life of Florence Nightingale Vol. II (1914) by Edward Tyas Cook, p. 406

Perseverance and resilience

What it means

Nightingale always urged people to make a practical start, however small, because small beginnings so often take root and grow.

About the author

Florence Nightingale — English founder of modern nursing (1820–1910).

Source and verification

Source: Letter to a friend, quoted in The Life of Florence Nightingale Vol. II (1914) by Edward Tyas Cook, p. 406
Reference: Florence Nightingale on Wikiquote
Checked: Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright: Public domain: the author died in 1910.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.

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