When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.
Horace WalpoleRead
By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being deaf allows one to avoid hearing unnecessary noise and nonsense.
This quote by Horace Walpole suggests that while being deaf means losing the ability to hear, it also provides a unique benefit: the avoidance of much of the trivial and nonsensical chatter that fills conversations. In essence, it presents a perspective that highlights the value of selective awareness and the peace found in disengaging from superfluous noise.
Themes
DeafnessNonsenseWisdomPerspectiveSilence
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental wellbeing, one could say, 'As Horace Walpole insightfully remarked, by deafness one gains more by avoiding the incessant noise of nonsense around us.'
More from Horace Walpole
All quotes βLife is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.
Horace WalpoleRead
We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.
Horace WalpoleRead
Who has begun has half done. Have the courage to be wise. Begin!
Horace WalpoleRead
Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.
Horace WalpoleRead
The passions seldom give good advice but to the interested and mercenary. Resentment generally suggests bad measures. Second thoughts and good nature will rarely, very rarely, approve the first hints of anger.
Horace WalpoleRead
Similar quotes
As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its color or fragrance, so let the sage dwell on earth.
Gautama BuddhaRead
In dealing with a man who thinks you are a fool, it is good sometimes to remind him that you know what he knows but have chosen to appear foolish for the sake of peace.
Chinua AchebeRead
Grown-up people do not know that a child can give exceedingly good advice even in the most difficult case.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
Sun TzuRead
It is right that we should stand by and act on our principles; but not right to hold them in obstinate blindness, or retain them when proved to be erroneous.
Michael FaradayRead
Merely to resist evil with evil by hating those who hate us and seeking to destroy them, is actually no resistance at all. It is active and purposeful collaboration in evil that brings the Christian into direct and intimate contact with the same source of evil and hatred which inspires the acts of his enemy. It leads in practice to a denial of Christ and to the service of hatred rather than love.
Thomas MertonRead