If thou canst but thither, There grows the flower of Peace, The Rose that cannot wither, Thy fortress and thy ease.
Henry VaughanRead
Man hath still either toys or care: But hath no root, nor to one place is tied, but ever restless and irregular, about this earth doth run and ride. He knows he hath a home, but scarce knows where; He says it is so far, that he has quite forgot how to go there.
Interpretation
Humans are often distracted by superficial things and lose touch with their true home and purpose.
This quote expresses a deep philosophical reflection on the nature of human existence, suggesting that people are either preoccupied with trivial pursuits ('toys') or burdened by worries ('care'), leaving them restless. While individuals may be aware of a deeper sense of belonging or purpose ('home'), they often forget or neglect how to reconnect with it amid their chaotic lives.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about finding one's true purpose in life.
If thou canst but thither, There grows the flower of Peace, The Rose that cannot wither, Thy fortress and thy ease.
No one could have fathomed what a life he'd led, for it was chiefly a life lived in his mind.
Human affairs are so obscure and various that nothing can be clearly known.
How necessary it is at all times to watch against the attempted encroachment of power, and to prevent its running to excess.
Call a thing immoral or ugly, soul-destroying or a degradation to man, a peril to the peace of the world or to the well-being of future generations: as long as you have not shown it to be "uneconomic" you have not really questioned its right to exist, grow, and prosper.
My rule is, if you want to build something that does all things for all people, it's not going to work real well.
The vitality of thought is in adventure. Idea's won't keep. Something must be done about them. When the idea is new, its custodians have fervour, live for it, and, if need be, die for it. Their inheritors receive the idea, perhaps now strong and successful, but without inheriting the fervour; so the idea settles down to a comfortable middle age, turns senile, and dies.
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