Human affairs inspire in noble hearts only two feelings-admiration or pity.
Anatole FranceRead
The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which will last forever.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often seek something beyond life without understanding or valuing the one they have.
In this quote, Anatole France reflects on the paradox of human existence where many individuals are dissatisfied with their current lives but simultaneously yearn for an eternal existence. This suggests a disconnect between recognizing the value of the present life and the desires for an infinite, often idealized, life beyond it, urging a deeper contemplation on how we live and appreciate our time on earth.
Themes
LifeExistenceValueDiscontentEternity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about appreciating life, this quote could highlight the importance of living in the moment.
More from Anatole France
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In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread.
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Justice is the means by which established injustices are sanctioned
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There is a certain impertinence in allowing oneself to be burned for an opinion.
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Lovers who love truly do not write down their happiness.
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People must have righteous principals in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.
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in time of daffodils(who know the goal of living is to grow) forgetting why,remember how in time of lilacs who proclaim the aim of waking is to dream, remember so(forgetting seem) in time of roses(who amaze our now and here with paradise) forgetting if,remember yes in time of all sweet things beyond whatever mind may comprehend, remember seek(forgetting find) and in a mystery to be (when time from time shall set us free) forgetting me,remember me
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If you want to be given everything, give everything up.
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It is not for me to judge another man's life. I must judge, I must choose, I must spurn, purely for myself. For myself, alone.
Hermann HesseRead
It is already possible to imagine a society in which the majority of the population, that is to say, its laborers, will have almost as much leisure as in earlier times was enjoyed by the aristocracy. When one recalls how aristocracies in the past actually behaved, the prospect is not cheerful.
W. H. AudenRead
The baby looks at things all day without winking; that is because his eyes are not focused on any particular object. He goes without knowing where he is going, and stops without knowing what he is doing. He merges himself within the surroundings and moves along with it. These are the principles of mental hygiene.
ZhuangziRead