No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer.
Thomas BrowneRead
Let the fruition of things bless the possession of them, and take no satisfaction in dying but living rich.
Interpretation
True wealth comes from the experiences and blessings we gain in life, rather than merely owning possessions.
In this quote, Thomas Browne emphasizes the importance of valuing the experiences and the richness of life over the mere accumulation of material possessions. He suggests that the true measure of life is not found in what we own, but in the richness of our experiences and how we appreciate them. By encouraging us to focus on living fully and embracing life's blessings, he advocates for a deeper understanding of fulfillment and satisfaction in our existence.
In practice
This quote is perfect for a motivational speech about living life to the fullest.
No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer.
Content may dwell in all stations. To be low but above contempt may be high enough to be happy.
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.
It is almost as presumptuous to think you can do nothing as to think you can do everything.
Try to be "good", you'll be judged. Try to be yourself, you'll be criticized. Therefore, choose the second option. Evil uses the "nice good people" as puppets. It appears dressed as a poor guy, telling them that he needs help...When these people realize they have been used, it is already too late.
No one can ride on the back of a man unless it is bent.
I am aware that I am very old now; but I am also aware that I have never been so young as I am now, in spirit, since I was fourteen and entertained Jim Wolf with the wasps. I am only able to perceive that I am old by a mental process; I am altogether unable to feel old in spirit. It is a pity, too, for my lapses from gravity must surely often be a reproach to me. When I am in the company of very young people I always feel that I am one of them, and they probably privately resent it.
If you fall in love with an idea, you won't see the merits of alternative approaches-and will probably miss an opportunity or two. One of life's great pleasures is letting go of a previously cherished idea. Then you're free to look for new ones. What part of your idea are you in love with? What would happen if you kissed it goodbye?
If I would be a young man again and had to decide how to make my living, I would not try to become a scientist or scholar or teacher. I would rather choose to be a plumber or a peddler in hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances.
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