--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You Learn (by Jorge Luis Borges) The…" description: "\"“You Learn (by Jorge Luis Borges) The poverty of yesterday was less squalid than the poverty we purchase with our industry today. Fortunes were smaller..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/jorge-luis-borges-275_poverty_you-learn-by-jorge-luis-borges-the-pover_1887729.jpg" --- # You Learn (by Jorge Luis Borges) The poverty of yesterday… ![“You Learn (by Jorge Luis Borges) The poverty of yesterday was less squalid than the poverty we purchase with our industry today. Fortunes were smaller then as well. (The Elderly Lady) After a while you learn the subtle difference Between holding a hand and chaining a soul, And you learn that love…” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/jorge-luis-borges-275_poverty_you-learn-by-jorge-luis-borges-the-pover_1887729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/jorge-luis-borges-275_poverty_you-learn-by-jorge-luis-borges-the-pover_1887729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21b/jorge-luis-borges-275_poverty_you-learn-by-jorge-luis-borges-the-pover_1887729.jpg) > ““You Learn (by Jorge Luis Borges) The poverty of yesterday was less squalid than the poverty we purchase with our industry today. Fortunes were smaller then as well. (The Elderly Lady) After a while you learn the subtle difference Between holding a hand and chaining a soul, And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning And company doesn’t mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts And presents aren’t promises, And you begin to accept your defeats With your head up and your eyes open With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child, And you learn to build all your roads on today Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn… That even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul, Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure… That you really are strong And you really do have worth… And you learn and learn… With every good-bye you learn. {…}”” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem reflects on how experience teaches us the difference between genuine connection and possession, the limits of love, and the necessity of self‑reliance in an uncertain world. **In simple terms:** Life teaches us love isn’t ownership and we must rely on ourselves. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑reliance and cherish present moments. Themes self‑reliance love growth uncertainty resilience Mood reflective hopeful determined Type philosophical inspirational poetic When to use this quote - personal relationships - career planning - mental health - creative projects - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism humanism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑reliance with seeking help? - What does “sunshine burns” mean for you? A Different Perspective The advice may overlook the value of community support and interdependence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“Learning After some time, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and imprisoning a soul; You learn that love does not equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/learning-after-some-time-you-learn-the-subtle-difference-between/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [After awhile you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. 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The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## More Poverty quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. 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I've got hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cook/i-ve-always-been-after-the-trappings-of-great-luxury-but-all-i-ve-got/) [Peter Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cook/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Hundreds of millions of human beings on our planet increasingly suffer from unemployment, poverty, hunger, and the destruction of their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/hundreds-of-millions-of-human-beings-on-our-planet-increasingly/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [There are 200 million poor in the world who would gladly take the vow of poverty if they could eat, dress and have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-200-million-poor-in-the-world-who-would-gladly-take-the-vow/) [Fulton J. 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