None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
You boast of spending a tenth part of your income in charity; may be you should spend the nine tenths so, and done with it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that true generosity comes not from merely donating a small portion, but from living a life dedicated to giving.
Henry David Thoreau's quote critiques the practice of giving only a small fraction of one's wealth to charity while retaining the vast majority for oneself. Thoreau implies that if one is genuinely committed to the well-being of others, it would be more commendable to give the majority of their wealth rather than just a token amount. The call to action in the quote is to live a life where the ethos of charity permeates all aspects of one's financial decisions, rather than limiting it to just a fraction.
Themes
CharityGenerosityWealthPhilanthropyGiving
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about philanthropy, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of substantial charitable actions.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
Henry David ThoreauRead
That grand old poem called Winter
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