The small wisdom is like water in a glass: clear, transparent, pure. The great wisdom is like the water in the sea: dark, mysterious, impenetrable.
Rabindranath TagoreRead
Things in which we do not take joy are either a burden upon our minds to be got rid of at any cost; or they are useful, and therefore in temporary and partial relation to us, becoming burdensome when their utility is lost; or they are like wandering vagabonds, loitering for a moment on the outskirts of our recognition, and then passing on. A thing is only completely our own when it is a thing of joy to us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that joy is essential for true ownership of experiences or possessions.
Rabindranath Tagore emphasizes the importance of joy in our relationship with things and experiences. He argues that items we don't find joy in become burdens or serve only a temporary purpose. True ownership comes from joy, meaning that our connection to what we possess is deepened when it brings us happiness, allowing us to transcend the fleeting nature of enjoyment and recognize its lasting significance in our lives.
Themes
JoyBurdenUtilityOwnershipHappiness
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a motivational speech about finding joy in your career path.
More from Rabindranath Tagore
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The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
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If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.
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To be outspoken is easy when you do not wait to speak the complete truth.
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