Skip to content

Painfully to attain possession of what we do not want, and…

“Painfully to attain possession of what we do not want, and then painfully to waste our days in attempting to rid ourselves of it, seems to be a part of our discipline here below.” quote by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Download Open image
“Painfully to attain possession of what we do not want, and then painfully to waste our days in attempting to rid ourselves of it, seems to be a part of our discipline here below.”

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

About This Quote

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

Acquiring unwanted things and then struggling to discard them is a common human struggle, reflecting the discipline of life.

In simple terms: Getting what we don’t want and trying to get rid of it is painful.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and release unwanted burdens early.

Themes

desire discipline attachment suffering

Mood

frustrated reflective

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • consumerism
  • relationship conflict
  • personal growth
  • stress management

Key Concepts

materialism attachment theory impermanence

Questions to Reflect On

  • What possessions cause you the most distress?
  • How can you prevent acquiring unwanted things?
A Different Perspective

Often the effort to discard is as painful as acquiring.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Explore all 116 Thomas Bailey Aldrich quotes

More Days quotes

Browse all 4,561 Days quotes