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You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.
Woodrow Wilson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of contributing to the world beyond just financial gain.

Woodrow Wilson's quote suggests that existence goes beyond mere survival or making a living; it calls for individuals to actively enrich the world and foster hope and achievement. By focusing solely on personal gains, one misses the true purpose of life, which is to make a positive impact and enhance the human experience for others.

Themes

PurposeContributionEnrichmentLifeImpact

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about community service, one might say this quote to inspire volunteers.

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The way to stop financial joyriding is to arrest the chauffeur, not the automobile.
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Once lead this people into war, and they'll forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance. To fight, you must be brutal and ruthless, and the spirit of ruthless brutality will enter into the very fiber of our national life, infecting Congress, the courts, the policeman on the beat, the man in the street.
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