None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
We are made happy when reason can discover no occasion for it. The memory of some past moments is more persuasive than the experience of present ones. There have been visions of such breadth and brightness that these motes were invisible in their light.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness often stems from our memories rather than current circumstances and can be brighter than present realities.
This quote by Henry David Thoreau suggests that true happiness can be derived from memories of the past that outshine our current experiences, even when there may seem to be no clear reason for joy in the present. It reflects on how powerful and persuasive our recollections can be, allowing us to find joy even amidst darkness, as the beauty of strong memories can render everyday troubles insignificant.
Themes
HappinessMemoriesReasonPresentJoy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech about finding joy in life beyond current challenges.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes →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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