I had much rather be adorned by beauty of character than by jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, character comes from within.
PlautusRead
I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Character is more valuable than material possessions.
This quote emphasizes the importance of inner character over outward appearances or material wealth. Plautus suggests that while jewels are beautiful and can be given by fortune, one's true beauty and value come from their character, which is developed from within and is the essence of a person's integrity and ethics.
Themes
CharacterBeautyWealthFortuneInner Value
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal development, one could invoke this quote to highlight the importance of character over material possessions.
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If I can only keep my good name, I shall have riches enough.
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Spice a dish with love and it pleases every palate.
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