The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The true tragedy of life lies in losing the capacity to love rather than in the loss of life itself.
This quote emphasizes that the greatest sorrow in human existence is not death, but rather the abandonment of love. It suggests that love is a vital force that gives life meaning, and when people stop loving, they lose a significant part of their humanity and existential purpose.
Themes
TragedyLoveLifeHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during a memorial service to highlight the importance of love in our lives.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
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As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away.
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And you will remember that love is not getting, but giving; not a wild dream of pleasure, and a madness of desire β oh no, love is not that β it is goodness, and honour, and peace, and pure living β yes, love is that; and it is the best thing in the world, and the thing that lives longest.
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Alas! never had I loved him so well!
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