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If man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell…

“If man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles, or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad, hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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“If man has good corn, or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles, or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad, hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success and prosperity attract attention and competition, making it harder to enjoy wealth in isolation.

In simple terms: Wealth invites scrutiny and rivalry.

Key Takeaway

Guard your success with humility and generosity.

Themes

wealth competition isolation humility generosity

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

  • business ventures
  • craftsmanship
  • rural entrepreneurship
  • community relations

Key Concepts

self-reliance social dynamics economic disparity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance sharing wealth with protecting personal peace?
  • What strategies keep you grounded amid competition?
A Different Perspective

Success can also bring envy and conflict, not just opportunity.

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