Obviously, there were ways to have made a lot more money and to have had more leisure. But I wouldn't choose that. I feel rich in ways that are unique and that I would never trade for tens of millions of dollars in the bank.
Interpretation
True wealth comes from experiences and values, not just money.
In this quote, Bryan Stevenson emphasizes that wealth is not merely measured by financial assets, but rather by the richness of experiences, relationships, and personal fulfillment. He suggests that having more money might come with benefits, but he values unique life experiences far above monetary gain, highlighting a personal understanding of what it means to be truly rich.
In practice
During a motivational speech about personal values and success.
That's my mission: I really want to get in the heads and hearts of kids and persuade them that they can believe things they haven't seen, they can do things that maybe others haven't done before them, that they are more than their worst acts.
We all have a responsibility to create a just society
One of the things that pains me is we have so tragically underestimated the trauma, the hardship we create in this country when we treat people unfairly, when we incarcerate them unfairly, when we condemn them unfairly.
Somebody has to stand when other people are sitting. Somebody has to speak when other people are quiet.
I grew up in a segregated community: I couldn't go to the public schools, beaches, certain parts of town.
If we had done the work that we should have done in the 20th century to combat our history of racial inequality, no one could win national office after demonizing people because they're Mexican or Muslim. We would be in a place where we would find that unacceptable.
Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.
Act as if you were already happy and that will tend to make you happy.
One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
Wine sets even a thoughtful man to singing, or sets him into softly laughing, sets him to dancing. Sometimes it tosses out a word that was better unspoken.
Happiness is the best facelift.
Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind.
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