None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
If the laborer gets no more than the wages which his employer pays him, he is cheated, he cheats himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that a laborer who simply accepts what he is paid is not only being cheated by his employer but is also failing to realize his own potential.
Henry David Thoreau's quote emphasizes the notion that accepting a mere paycheck without striving for more is akin to self-deception. It implies that individuals must recognize their worth and potential, suggesting that fulfilling work should ideally be more than just financial compensation; it should also include personal growth, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose.
Themes
LaborWagesSelf-WorthPotentialWorkEmployer
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about job satisfaction, one might say, 'As Thoreau pointed out, if we only chase wages, we cheat ourselves out of true fulfillment.'
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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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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