None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests a skepticism toward well-intentioned help, indicating that it may not always be beneficial or welcome.
Henry David Thoreau's quote reflects a deep skepticism about the motives behind kindness and assistance. It highlights the idea that someone coming with the intent to 'do good' can bring unwanted pressures or expectations, leading to a need for personal space and autonomy. Thoreau's perspective raises questions about the nature of help and suggests that sometimes it is better to rely on oneself rather than accept assistance that may not be genuinely in one's interest.
Themes
SkepticismHelpAutonomyIntentionsIndividuality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about personal boundaries at a self-help seminar.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
Henry David ThoreauRead
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
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That grand old poem called Winter
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