The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Gratitude is a useless word. You will find it in a dictionary but not in life.
Interpretation
Gratitude may be recognized in theory but is often absent in practice.
This quote emphasizes the idea that while the concept of gratitude exists and is acknowledged in language, it is frequently overlooked or neglected in everyday life. The author suggests that simply knowing about gratitude is not enough; it must be genuinely practiced and felt to hold true significance.
In practice
During a speech on personal growth, one might quote this to highlight the importance of appreciating life's moments.
The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.
To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
Typically, when you look for role models, you want someone who has your interests and came from the same background. Well, look how restricting that is. What people should do is take role models a la carte. If there's someone whose character you appreciated, you respect that trait.
Study the teachings of the pine tree, the bamboo, and the plum blossom. The pine is evergreen, firmly rooted, and venerable. The bamboo is strong, resilient, unbreakable. The plum blossom is hardy, fragrant, and elegant.
I've learned you don't always listen to your agents and managers. Sometimes they know nothing.
It is harmful to compare yourself to others. Others will do that for you.
Knowledge, or verbal facility, is no proof that you know what you're talking about.
I think that if you live long enough, you realize that so much of what happens in life is out of your control, but how you respond to it is in your control. That's what I try to remember.
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