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He owned a whole world full of memories, of lovely moments relived and happy recollections. I'm not saying he was happy or that he didn't suffer. He suffered very much, but he did not despair; he still drew nourishment from what he had been given. But the sadness never left him. Happiness needs more than memories of the past to feed on; it also needs dreams of the future.
Jorge Amado
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Happiness is sustained by both cherished memories and future aspirations.

In this quote, Jorge Amado reflects on the complexity of happiness, suggesting that while memories of joyful moments can provide comfort, true happiness also requires hope and dreams for the future. Despite suffering and sadness being a part of life, the presence of these positive recollections alone is not sufficient for a fulfilling, joyful existence; one must also look forward with optimism.

Themes

HappinessMemoriesDreamsSufferingFuture

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, one might cite this quote to illustrate the importance of hope.

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