The further off from England the nearer is to France-_x000D_ _x000D_ Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
If everybody minded their own business... the world would go round a deal faster than it does.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that if people focused on their own lives instead of interfering in others', society would function more smoothly.
Lewis Carroll's quote highlights the importance of personal responsibility and self-awareness. It suggests that many societal problems stem from individuals getting involved in the affairs of others rather than concentrating on their own issues and contributions. By encouraging people to manage their own lives, the quote implies that this would lead to a more harmonious and efficient world, as distractions and conflicts would decrease.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about community engagement, one might quote this to advocate for self-focus over meddling in others' affairs.
More from Lewis Carroll
All quotes βTo the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said 'I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head. Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be, Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me.
So she was considering in her own mind...whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up & picking the daisies.
Once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people.
Rule Forty-two. All persons more than a mile high to leave the court.
Crawling at your feet,' said the Gnat (Alice drew her feet back in some alarm), `you may observe a Bread-and-Butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar.' And what does IT live on?' Weak tea with cream in it.' A new difficulty came into Alice's head. `Supposing it couldn't find any?' she suggested. Then it would die, of course.' But that must happen very often,' Alice remarked thoughtfully. It always happens,' said the Gnat.
Similar quotes
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p.61 He [Roark] was usually disliked, from the first sight of his face, anywhere he went. His face was closed like the door of a safety vault; things locked in safety vaults are valuable; men did not care to feel that. He was a cold, disquieting presence in the room; his presence had a strange quality: it made itself felt and yet it made them feel that he was not there; or perhaps that he was and they weren't.
The more we can give in our silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.
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I don't blame the average seventeen-year-old punk-rock kid for calling me a sellout. I understand that. And maybe when they grow up a little bit, they'll realize there's more things to life than living out your rock & roll identity so righteously.