I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
E. E. CummingsRead
I'd rather have two good friends, than 500,000 admirers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Quality friendships are more valuable than a large number of superficial admirers.
This quote by E. E. Cummings emphasizes the importance of deep, meaningful relationships over a large quantity of admirers who may not truly care for you. Having a few good friends who support you and understand you is far more rewarding than being popular with many people who lack a genuine connection.
Themes
FriendshipQualityRelationshipsAdmirersValue
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the importance of relationships, someone could use this quote to underscore that true friendship is more valuable than mere popularity.
More from E. E. Cummings
All quotes βIt takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
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When god decided to invent everything he took one reath bigger than a circustent and everything began
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The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.
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Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else.
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If a poet is anybody, he is somebody to whom things made matter very little - somebody who is obsessed by Making.
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Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.
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But sometimes it's like you just meet someone and you just know that you're totally connected, and this person is, like, your brother - or your sister. Even if they don't, like, recognize it, you feel it. And in a lot of ways it don't matter if they do or they don't see that for what it is - all you can do is put the feeling out there. That's your duty. Then you just wait and see what comes back to you. That's the deal.
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