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All good things are cheap: all bad are very dear.
Henry David Thoreau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Good things in life often come at little cost, while bad things demand a high price.

This quote by Henry David Thoreau suggests that the true joys and valuable experiences in life are often simple and accessible, while the negative aspects, such as suffering or regret, come with significant costs. It highlights a philosophical perspective on the nature of value, urging us to appreciate the simplicity of goodness and recognize the burdens that accompany negativity.

Themes

ValueGoodnessBadCostSimplicity

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about prioritizing happiness over material wealth.

More from Henry David Thoreau

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
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Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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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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A little wisdom, now and then

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