No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer.
Thomas BrowneRead
Content may dwell in all stations. To be low but above contempt may be high enough to be happy.
Interpretation
True contentment can be found in any position in life, as long as one maintains self-respect.
This quote emphasizes that happiness is not solely derived from one's social status or external circumstances, but rather from an internal sense of contentment and self-worth. It suggests that being in a humble position, yet maintaining dignity and self-appreciation, is sufficient for true happiness.
In practice
In a motivational speech about finding happiness in everyday life, you could use this quote.
No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer.
Thus there are two books from whence I collect my Divinity; besides that written one of God, another of his servant Nature, that universal and public Manuscript, that lies expans'd unto the eyes of all; those that never saw him in the one, have discovered him in the other.
To be content with death may be better than to desire it.
Life itself is but the shadow of death, and souls departed but the shadows of the living.
The long habit of living indisposeth us for dying.
Life is a pure flame and we live by an invisible sun within us.
I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing.
Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfillment.
Happiness isn't a fortune in a cookie. It's deeper, wider, funnier, and more transporting than that.
Joy is the sweet voice, joy the luminous cloud. We in ourselves rejoice! And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight, all melodies the echoes of that voice, all colours a suffusion from that light.
unbroken happiness is a bore: it should have ups and downs.
Be happy now. It's a great Western disease that we'll be happy in the future - when we get higher status or that BMW or that promotion or this project finished. Instead, be happy now.
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