Most people, if they were generous, were so because they thought life was short and that one must make the most of it. Sid Baxter was generous because he knew that life was long. It went on and on even when you had no use for it anymore. It was happiness, not life, that was short, and when it visited - in the form of a fine evening spent talking with a friend - he honoured it.
Interpretation
True generosity comes from understanding the value of life's experiences and moments of happiness.
This quote emphasizes that most people practice generosity due to the perception that life is fleeting, prompting them to make the most of their time. In contrast, Sid Baxter's generosity stems from a deeper wisdom, recognizing that life is long and filled with moments of happiness that should be cherished and honored, particularly in the presence of friends.
In practice
In a speech about community service, one might quote this to inspire others to appreciate and honor moments of happiness.
I play until my fingers are blue and stiff from the cold, and then I keep on playing. Until I'm lost in the music. Until I am the music--notes and chords, the melody and harmony. It hurts, but it's okay because when I'm the music, I'm not me. Not sad. Not afraid. Not desperate. Not guilty.
Let us beware of common folk, of common sense, of sentiment, of inspiration, and of the obvious.
To be wholly devoted to some intellectual exercise is to have succeeded in life.
Genius is rare because the means of becoming one have not been available
Logic is the hygiene the mathematician practices to keep his ideas healthy and strong.
When you counsel someone, you should appear to be reminding him of something he had forgotten, not of the light he was unable to see.
The best tournament players actually try to avoid risky plays altogether. They prefer to wait for their opponents to make the risky moves. They'll wait patiently until they catch a strong hand. When they do, they'll take down their overly aggressive foes.
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