To continue living, we have to die. That's the story of humanity - generation after generation - that we are going to die. There's nothing dramatic about death except that one loses one's life.
A traveller must have the back of an ass to bear all, a tongue like the tail of a dog to flatter all, the mouth of a hog to eat what is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the qualities needed for a traveler, including patience, adaptability, and discretion.
In this quote, Thomas Nashe humorously illustrates the attributes necessary for a successful traveler. He suggests that a traveler must possess the endurance of a donkey to manage challenges, a flattering disposition akin to a dog's tail, a willingness to accept whatever is offered like a hog, and the quiet insight of a merchant who listens without revealing too much. This blend of traits speaks to the broader human experience of navigating life’s journeys and interactions with others.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about resilience and adaptability during travel.
Similar quotes
Life is an unanswered question, but let's still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.
Attentiveness is the natural prayer of the Soul.
The goal of my work is to help assure that we can create a world of abundance in which we meet the basic needs of every man, woman and child.
In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.
The Christian life is simply a process of having your natural self changed into a Christ self, and that this process goes on very far inside. One's most private wishes, one's point of view, are the things that have to be changed.