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In health of mind and body, men should see with their own eyes, hear and speak without trumpets, walk on their feet, not on wheels, and work and war with their arms, not with engine-beams, nor rifles warranted to kill twenty men at a shot before you can see them.
John Ruskin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of experiencing life directly and authentically, without reliance on technology or tools.

John Ruskin's quote highlights the value of engaging with the world in a mindful and direct way, advocating for personal involvement and authenticity over mechanical or abstract substitutes. It suggests that true understanding and action come from personal experience, urging individuals to rely on their own senses and capabilities rather than detaching themselves through technology or machinery.

Themes

AuthenticityExperienceMindfulnessTechnologyDirect Engagement

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about personal growth, one could use this quote to encourage individuals to engage with their surroundings.

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Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.
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You talk of the scythe of Time, and the tooth of Time: I tell you, Time is scytheless and toothless; it is we who gnaw like the worm - we who smite like the scythe. It is ourselves who abolish - ourselves who consume: we are the mildew, and the flame.
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To be able to ask a question clearly is two-thirds of the way to getting it answered.
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See that your children be taught, not only the labors of the earth, but the loveliness of it.
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A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.
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When men do not love their hearth, nor reverence their thresholds, it is a sign that they have dishonoured both ... Our God is a house-hold God, as well as a heavenly one; He has an altar in every man's dwelling.
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