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This will never be a civilized country until we spend more money for books than we do for chewing gum.
Elbert Hubbard
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Interpretation

What this quote means

A society's progress relies more on its investment in education than on trivial expenses.

Elbert Hubbard's quote highlights the disparity between our spending on entertainment and leisure, such as chewing gum, compared to the essential investment in education and knowledge. It suggests that a truly civilized society prioritizes the advancement of its citizens through access to books and learning resources, which in turn fosters a more informed and enlightened populace.

Themes

EducationInvestmentSocietyBooksCivilization

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the importance of education funding in schools.

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How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success.
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The mintage of wisdom is to know that rest is rust, and that real life is love, laughter, and work.
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Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal.
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He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much.
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Truth, in its struggles for recognition, passes through four distinct stages. First, we say it is damnable, dangerous, disorderly, and will surely disrupt society. Second, we declare it is heretical, infidelic and contrary to the Bible. Third, we say it is really a matter of no importance either one way or the other. Fourth, we aver that we have always upheld it and believed it.
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