The common problem, yours, mine, everyone's Is ? not to…
“The common problem, yours, mine, everyone's Is ? not to fancy what were fair in life Provided it could be ? but, finding first What may be, then find how to make it fair Up to our means.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He explores the difficulty of achieving fairness, suggesting first identifying possibilities then aligning means.
In simple terms: He says fairness requires finding what’s possible and then making it fair within limits.
Identify possibilities before demanding fairness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- personal budgeting
- social reform
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits your ability to be fair?
- How can you balance idealism with reality?
Ideal fairness may be unattainable due to constraints.