Helen Keller - Tolerance isn’t about putting up with what you can’t change, but about understanding what you can’t understand
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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I’m your host, Andrew McGivern for November 16th.
It’s International Day for Tolerance. Now, tolerance isn’t just about putting up with the quirks of your chatty coworker or the neighbor’s mysteriously loud parrot. Today is really about celebrating the value of acceptance, patience, and respect for different perspectives, cultures, and ways of life.
With that in mind, here’s a powerful quote to guide us from Helen Keller:
“Tolerance isn’t about putting up with what you can’t change, but about understanding what you can’t understand.”
Helen Keller—a woman who knew a thing or two about overcoming challenges and seeing beyond her own limitations.
Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at just 19 months old due to an illness, but with the help of her remarkable teacher, Anne Sullivan, she became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She went on to become an author, a lecturer, and an advocate for people with disabilities, inspiring millions with her courage and insight.
Now, what makes Keller’s words so meaningful today is her reminder that tolerance isn’t passive. It’s not something you grit your teeth through until the “difference” goes away. It’s an active choice to bridge the gap between what you understand and what feels unfamiliar. Tolerance is rooted in the humility to say, “I might not fully grasp this, but I’m willing to respect it.”
Think about that for a moment. Keller’s life was one constant act of understanding, and she invites us to do the same. So today, as you encounter someone or something that stretches your own perspective, remember that tolerance isn’t about simply enduring the unfamiliar. It’s about embracing the curiosity to see what’s on the other side.
Thanks for joining me on The Daily Quote. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for today, reminding you that sometimes the greatest strength is in accepting that you don’t have all the answers—yet choosing kindness anyway.
See you tomorrow, same pod time, same pod station, for another Daily Quote!