The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thomas CarlyleRead
A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness, there can be no true joy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True joy comes from the heart, and kindness is essential for genuine happiness.
This quote emphasizes the connection between joy and kindness. It suggests that authentic laughter and happiness stem from a kind heart, indicating that without compassion and goodwill towards others, one cannot experience true joy. It highlights the importance of inner feelings and character in the expression of happiness.
Themes
JoyKindnessHappinessHeartAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speaker could use this quote to illustrate the importance of a positive attitude and kindness in personal happiness during a workshop.
More from Thomas Carlyle
All quotes βThirty millions, mostly fools.
Thomas CarlyleRead
There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.
Thomas CarlyleRead
For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil; it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Clean undeniable right, clear undeniable might: either of these once ascertained puts an end to battle. All battle is a confused experiment to ascertain one and both of these.
Thomas CarlyleRead
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