O suffering, sad humanity! O ye afflicted ones, who lie Steeped to the lips in misery, Longing, yet afraid to die, Patient, though sorely tried!
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
He looks the whole world in the face for he owes not any man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests a sense of freedom and integrity that comes from living without debt or obligation to others.
In this quote, Longfellow expresses the idea that a person who has no debts or obligations feels a profound sense of confidence and autonomy. When one owes nothing to anyone, they can confront the world with their head held high, free from the burdens of guilt or responsibility. It speaks to the value of living truthfully and ethically, maintaining integrity and self-reliance in interactions with others.
Themes
FreedomIntegrityResponsibilityDebtAutonomy
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote as a motivational piece in a financial literacy workshop.
More from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
All quotes →There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
To be seventy years old is like climbing the Alps. You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles and miles away, and before you other summits higher and whiter, which you may have strength to climb, or may not. Then you sit down and meditate and wonder which it will be.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
God is not dead; nor doth He sleep; ... _x000D_ The wrong shall fail,_x000D_ The right prevail,_x000D_ With peace on earth, good will to men.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
In the long run men hit only what they aim at.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
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