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.
Henry David ThoreauRead
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
Henry David ThoreauRead
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
Henry David ThoreauRead
Similar quotes
Making coffee has become the great compromise of the decade. It's the only thing "real" men do that doesn't seem to threaten their masculinity. To women, it's on the same domestic entry level as putting the spring back into the toilet-tissue holder or taking a chicken out of the freezer to thaw.
Erma BombeckRead
Everything about Christianity is contained in the pathetic image of 'the flock.
Christopher HitchensRead
I have to admit that the empty prestige and the stupid glory - yes, the horrible rush, the deadly sense of importance that war brings to life - are hard illusions to shake off. Look at me, a war correspondent.
Michael HastingsRead
Government is a necessary evil
Thomas PaineRead
Conflict, of course, comes about because of the misuse of power and the clash of ideals, not to mention the inflammatory activities of unscrupulous and bigoted leaders. But it also arises, tragically, from an inability to understand and from the powerful emotions which, out of misunderstanding, lead to distrust and fear.
Prince CharlesRead
We are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.
Edward BernaysRead