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About this quote

What does it mean?
Possessing things without responsibility brings false happiness.
In plain terms
Owning without obligation feels like bliss.
What can you take from it?
True happiness needs responsibility.

Where it applies

  • relationships
  • wealth
  • ownership

Putting it to work

  • consider obligations
  • balance freedom
  • reflect on happiness

Questions to consider

  • Does ownership bring joy or burden?
  • What obligations do you accept?

Another view

Some freedom from obligation is healthy.

More from George Meredith

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  3. She [Comedy] it is who proposes the correcting of pretentiousness, of inflation, of dulness, and of the vestiges of rawness and grossness to be found among us.…

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