QuoteProject
There cannot live a more unhappy creature than an ill-natured old man, who is neither capable of receiving pleasures, nor sensible of conferring them on others.
William Temple
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

An ill-natured old man is unable to find joy or share it with others, resulting in a profoundly unhappy existence.

This quote reflects the profound unhappiness that can accompany a negative disposition, particularly in old age. It suggests that those who are ill-tempered are not only deprived of personal joy and pleasure but also lack the ability to bring happiness to those around them, leading to a life filled with dissatisfaction and isolation.

Themes

UnhappinessOld AgeIll-NaturedJoyPleasure

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be shared during a discussion about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude throughout life.

More from William Temple

We shall say without hesitation that the atheist who is moved by love is moved by the Spirit of God; an atheist who lives by love is saved by his faith in the God whose existence (under that name) he denies.
William TempleRead
The most influential of all educational factors is the conversation in a child's home.
William TempleRead
Who ever converses among old books will be hard to please among the new.
William TempleRead

Similar quotes

It is astonishing how many mental operations we can explain when we have once grasped the principles of association
William JamesRead
Truth is meant to save you first, and the comfort comes afterwards.
Georges BernanosRead
Every gift of noble origin Is breathed upon by Hope's perpetual breath.
William WordsworthRead
Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future; practice these acts. _x000D_ As to diseases, make a habit of two things--to help, or at least to do no harm.
HippocratesRead
There's a popular image of people who don't save for the future as lacking in self-control. But the reason saving is so hard has less to do with self-control and more to do with a scarcity of attention.
Sendhil MullainathanRead
If I'm an ass, I should say so. If I don't, somebody else will. If I say it first, that disarms them.
Charles BukowskiRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.