It put our energies
â
It put our energies to sleep and made visionaries of us
dreamers and indolent...
It is good to begin life poor;
it is good to begin life rich
these are wholesome;
but to begin it prospectively rich!
The man who has not experienced it cannot imagine the curse of it.
â
Meaning
This quote means expecting future wealth without yet possessing it can weaken character by encouraging laziness, fantasy, and passivity. Deferred riches can be a curse.
About Author
Mark Twain
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, was an American author and humorist known for classics like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His quotes often reflect wit, social critique, and human insight. Twain inspires writers, readers, and social thinkers to explore human nature, challenge conventions, and communicate ideas with humor and intelligence.
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This quote means spectacle and noise may impress, but effective power comes from what actually acts. Results matter more than drama.
â Prosperity is the best protector of principle. â
This quote means people hold more firmly to principle when they are comfortable and secure. Hardship often weakens abstract conviction.