What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Happiness and beauty are by-products. Folly is the direct pursuit of happiness and beauty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True happiness and beauty come naturally as we engage in meaningful pursuits rather than chasing them directly.
In this quote, George Bernard Shaw posits that happiness and beauty are not goals to be pursued in isolation, but rather are the natural results of engaging in fulfilling activities and living a meaningful life. The direct pursuit of these concepts can lead to folly, suggesting that fixating on them can distract us from the deeper aspects of life that ultimately lead to true joy and appreciation of beauty.
Themes
HappinessBeautyPursuitFollyMeaningful Life
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a motivational speech about finding joy in life's journey rather than chasing superficial goals.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes βMarriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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