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About this quote

What does it mean?
True wealth, greatness, and happiness come from self-sufficiency, autonomy, and living well until death.
In plain terms
You are rich if you want nothing, great if you rule yourself, happy if you die well.
What can you take from it?
Find wealth in contentment and self-mastery.

Where it applies

  • life review
  • philosophy
  • leadership

Putting it to work

  • reduce desires
  • live with integrity

Questions to consider

  • What do you truly need?
  • How will you define a good death?

Another view

It ignores systemic barriers to autonomy or contentment.

More from Joseph Hall

  1. Perfection is the child of time:

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  2. A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.

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  3. Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.

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