When I was at school my jography told me th' earth was…
“When I was at school my jography told me th' earth was shaped like a orange an' I found out before I was ten that th' whole orange doesn't belong to nobody. No one owns more than his bit of a quarter an' there's times it seems there's not enow quarters to go around. But don't you-none o' you- think as you own th' whole orange or you'll find out you're mistaken, an' you won't find it without hard knocks. What children learns from children, is that there's no sense grabbin' at th' whole orange-peel an' all. If you do you'll likely not get even th' pips, an' them's too bitter to eat.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The story uses an orange metaphor to teach that claiming everything leads to loss; sharing and modest claims yield better results.
In simple terms: Sharing prevents loss; greed harms.
Key Takeaway
Embrace sharing and modesty.
Themes
generosity
fairness
community
humility
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
moral
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family life
- education
- business negotiations
- public policy
Key Concepts
social equity
resource distribution
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sharing improve outcomes?
- What limits should we set on personal claims?
A Different Perspective
Greed can blind one to real scarcity.