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The perfection of wisdom, and the end of true philosophy is to proportion our wants to our possessions, our ambitions to our capacities, we will then be a happy and a virtuous people.
Mark Twain
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Interpretation

What this quote means

True happiness comes from aligning our desires with what we actually have and can achieve.

Mark Twain suggests that wisdom lies in understanding the relationship between our aspirations and our current circumstances. By moderating our desires to match our possessions and capabilities, we can cultivate a sense of happiness and virtue within ourselves and our communities.

Themes

WisdomHappinessContentmentDesiresPossessions

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a motivational speech to encourage people to find happiness through gratitude.

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