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Life is thickly sown with thorns. I know no other remedy than to pass rapidly over them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes the greater is their power to harm us.
Voltaire
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Life is full of challenges, and dwelling on them only increases their impact.

Voltaire's quote reflects a philosophical view on the nature of life and suffering. He suggests that life is inherently filled with difficulties, represented by 'thorns,' but emphasizes the importance of moving past these challenges quickly. By doing so, we diminish their ability to cause harm and suffering in our lives. It points to the idea that fixation on misfortunes can amplify their negative effects, urging individuals to adopt a forward-thinking approach to life's adversities.

Themes

LifeChallengesSufferingRemedyMisfortunes

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech on overcoming adversity, this quote can inspire resilience.

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We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
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