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One can remain alive ... if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity interested in big things and happy in small ways.
Edith Wharton
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Embracing change and finding joy in simplicity leads to a fulfilling life.

In this quote, Edith Wharton emphasizes the importance of being open to change and maintaining a deep intellectual curiosity. She suggests that a fulfilling life is not only about seeking grand experiences but also appreciating the small joys that everyday moments can bring, advocating for balance between ambition and contentment.

Themes

ChangeCuriosityJoyLifeContentment

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used during a motivational speech about personal growth and adaptability.

More from Edith Wharton

They are all alike you know. They hold their tongues for years and you think you're safe, but when the opportunity comes they remember everything.
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Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.
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And I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to undo, & consequently suggests more tugging, & pain, & diversified elements of misery, than the marriage tie.
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As he paid the hansom and followed his wife's long train into the house he took refuge in the comforting platitude that the first six months were always the most difficult in marriage. 'After that I suppose we shall have pretty nearly finished rubbing off each other’s angles,' he reflected; but the worst of it was that May's pressure was already bearing on the very angles whose sharpness he most wanted to keep
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There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.
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