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Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones. Any nobleness begins at once to refine a man's features, any meanness or sensuality to imbrute them.
Henry David Thoreau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes that individuals shape their own existence and character through their actions and choices.

Henry David Thoreau asserts that each person is responsible for crafting their own identity and physicality, akin to an artist creating a masterpiece. The quality of one's character, whether noble or base, directly influences one's outward appearance and essence, suggesting that our moral and ethical choices define us and the way we present ourselves to the world.

Themes

IdentityCharacterCreationResponsibilityNobility

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about personal growth.

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