Real intelligence is a creative use of knowledge, not merely an accumulation of facts. The slow thinker who can finally come up with an idea of his own is more important to the world than a walking encyclopedia who hasn’t learned how to use information productively.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
If you take too long in deciding what to do with your life, you'll find you've done it.
Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect and make everyone else deal with you the same way.
If my desk is clear it is because I have not been working on it.
or
If my desk is clear it is because I have not been working off of it.
"We are generally the better persuaded by the reasons we discover ourselves than by those given to us by others."