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The cost of a thing is something called life which is given in exchange for it.
Henry David Thoreau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The value of an item is measured by the life experience and effort invested in obtaining it.

This quote by Henry David Thoreau suggests that every possession or achievement comes at the cost of life's time and energy. It emphasizes that the true price of something is not just monetary; it is the life and experiences we trade for it, prompting deeper reflection on what we truly value in our lives and how we choose to spend our time.

Themes

CostValueLifeExchangeExperience

In practice

Example use cases

During a lecture on consumerism, a speaker might use this quote to highlight the importance of being mindful of what one spends time and money on.

More from Henry David Thoreau

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
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Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
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That grand old poem called Winter
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