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Our first duty, to which every other consideration should be sacrificed, is not to be poor.
George Bernard Shaw
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes that avoiding poverty is a primary responsibility that outweighs other priorities.

In this quote, George Bernard Shaw asserts that the fundamental obligation of individuals is to ensure their financial stability. He suggests that the struggle against poverty should take precedence over other concerns and ambitions, as being poor can severely limit one’s opportunities and quality of life. Essentially, Shaw is highlighting the importance of prioritizing economic security as a means to live a fulfilling life.

Themes

PovertyDutyFinancial StabilitySuccessResponsibility

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about financial responsibility, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of prioritizing economic security.

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What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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