As I had once done thus in my breaking away from my…
“As I had once done thus in my breaking away from my Parents, so I could not be content now, but I must go and leave the happy View I had of being a rich and thriving Man in my new Plantation, only to pursue a rash and immoderate Desire of rising faster than the Nature of the Thing admitted; and thus I cast my self down again into the deepest Gulph of human Misery that ever Man fell into, or perhaps could be consistent with Life and a State of Health in the World.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes abandoning a comfortable, prosperous life to chase an excessive ambition, leading to deep misery and questioning the limits of human desire.
In simple terms: Leaving comfort for reckless ambition brings suffering.
Key Takeaway
Beware overreaching ambition.
Themes
ambition
contentment
human limits
consequences
wealth
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- entrepreneurial pursuits
- personal relationships
- financial speculation
Key Concepts
Hubris
self‑destruction
existential crisis
Questions to Reflect On
- Is your current goal worth the potential loss of peace?
- How do you balance ambition with contentment?
A Different Perspective
Excessive ambition can cause irreversible damage to wellbeing.