Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Joseph AddisonRead
What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.
Interpretation
Smiles have a profound positive impact on humanity, much like sunshine nourishes flowers.
In this quote, Joseph Addison compares the importance of smiles to that of sunshine for flowers. He emphasizes that while smiles may seem like small gestures, they contribute significantly to the well-being of people, enriching lives in ways that are beyond measure.
In practice
In a motivational speech about kindness, one might use this quote to inspire audience members to smile more.
Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Good nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.
Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.
Those who are content have enough; those that complain, have too much.
Men have physical needs, and they have emotions. While physical needs are unsatisfied, they take first place; but when they are satisfied, emotions unconnected with them become important in deciding whether a man is to be happy or unhappy.
It's not that life has been easy, perfect or exactly as expected. I just choose to be happy and grateful no matter how it all turns out. If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
The most happy man is he who knows how to bring into relation the end and beginning of his life.
I think, as long as you're secure with yourself and happy with yourself, it really doesn't matter what the world around you thinks.
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