One of the lecturers at RMIT once told a story.
My take on his motivation is that he was attempting to encourage us.
The below is a paraphrased version, as my memory is a little vague on his exact words.
“Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a Collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States’ Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that’s one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.“
It is probably an urban myth (the above is taken from a Wiki page with this take on it). But after telling the story he emphatically repeated, a number of times (such that some of the students started to become a little amused, bemused and bewildered) … “be the lighthouse …. be the lighthouse …. ” ; it became my favourite quote of his.
I still sometimes recall that little phrase … it reminds me to stand my ground, believe in myself, to not be blown about by every wind …
Cape Otway lighthouse; image not to be reproduced without permission
Glad you get something sensible from it. Every time I think of it, it just makes be giggle. Not a bad thing though!