Alas! if the principles of contentment are not within us, the height of station and worldly grandeur will as soon add a cubit to a man's stature as to his happiness.

Summary

This quote suggests that no amount of external success or material wealth can bring true happiness without the internal principles of contentment. The idea is that being in a high social position or having a grand lifestyle does not automatically make a person happier. Just as these external factors cannot physically increase a person's height, they also cannot guarantee an increase in happiness. Instead, true contentment comes from within and cannot be dependent on worldly achievements or possessions.

Topics