--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have discovered that many of the things…" description: "\"I have discovered that many of the things I thought were priceless are as cheap as costume jewelry, and much of what I labeled worthless was, all the t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/martha-beck-961_awkward_i-have-discovered-that-many-of-the-thing_1315250.jpg" --- # I have discovered that many of the things I thought were… ![“I have discovered that many of the things I thought were priceless are as cheap as costume jewelry, and much of what I labeled worthless was, all the time, filled with the kind of beauty that directly nourishes my soul... Now I think that the vast majority of us "normal" people spend our lives…” quote by Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/martha-beck-961_awkward_i-have-discovered-that-many-of-the-thing_1315250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/martha-beck-961_awkward_i-have-discovered-that-many-of-the-thing_1315250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e2/martha-beck-961_awkward_i-have-discovered-that-many-of-the-thing_1315250.jpg) > “I have discovered that many of the things I thought were priceless are as cheap as costume jewelry, and much of what I labeled worthless was, all the time, filled with the kind of beauty that directly nourishes my soul... Now I think that the vast majority of us "normal" people spend our lives trashing our treasures and treasuring our trash. We bustle around trying to create the impression that we are hip, imperturbable, omniscient, in perfect control, when in fact we are awkward and scared and bewildered.” [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many things we deem priceless are cheap, while what we dismiss as worthless often nourishes our soul; we waste time pretending to be perfect and ignore our true feelings. **In simple terms:** We often misvalue things and hide our insecurities behind false images. Key Takeaway Recognize and cherish genuine sources of joy. Themes self‑deception value authenticity vulnerability Mood reflective empathetic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - career choices - mental health - creative expression - social media use Key Concepts Psychology self‑esteem cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What "treasures" have you overlooked? - How can you stop pretending to be perfect? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated habits is difficult and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Bewildered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewildered/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Costumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costumes/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Omniscient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omniscient/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) ## Related quotes > [This planet is our home and we're trashing and killing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/this-planet-is-our-home-and-we-re-trashing-and-killing-it/) [Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/) > [I've trashed a hotel room. 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I'm very glad I've retired away from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munir-butt/politics-these-days-is-a-disgusting-game-of-mud-slinging-filled-with/) Munir Butt > [Defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom, and above all futility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/defeat-is-a-thing-of-weariness-of-incoherence-of-boredom-and-above/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Bustle about Noddy, or we shant be in time to snabble any of the lobster patties.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/bustle-about-noddy-or-we-shant-be-in-time-to-snabble-any-of-the/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Faith doesn't mean that you don't have doubts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/faith-doesn-t-mean-that-you-don-t-have-doubts/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [And see all sights from pole to pole, And glance, and nod, and hustle by; And never once possess our soul Before we die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/and-see-all-sights-from-pole-to-pole-and-glance-and-nod-and-hustle-by/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [In health, in the bustle of living, it was easy to believe in heaven and a life to come. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/virtue-could-see-to-do-what-virtue-would-by-her-own-radiant-light/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [We care not how many see us in choler, when we rave and bluster, and make as much noise and bustle as we can;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-care-not-how-many-see-us-in-choler-when-we-rave-and-bluster-and/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [What is the true test of character unless it be its progressive development in the bustle and turmoil, in the action and reaction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/what-is-the-true-test-of-character-unless-it-be-its-progressive/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) ## More by Martha Beck > [Imagine what you'd do if it absolutely didn't matter what people thought of you. Got it? Good. Never go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/imagine-what-you-d-do-if-it-absolutely-didn-t-matter-what-people/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [In one century, we've added 28 years to our average life span - a change so rapid that our brains couldn't possibly have evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/in-one-century-we-ve-added-28-years-to-our-average-life-span-a-change/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [If I tell a man he needs to quit his soul-sucking job, he has to go home and fight with his wife or fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/if-i-tell-a-man-he-needs-to-quit-his-soul-sucking-job-he-has-to-go/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [There has never been, and never will be, anyone who sees, thinks, or responds exactly the way you do. 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It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-power-to-bring-me-out-of-solitude-or-to-push-me-back-into-it-had/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Learning to quit while you're not ahead, when the dull ooze of depression tells you things are not going to get any better, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/learning-to-quit-while-you-re-not-ahead-when-the-dull-ooze-of/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [The important thing is to tell yourself a life story in which you, the hero, are primarily a problem solver rather than a helpless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-important-thing-is-to-tell-yourself-a-life-story-in-which-you-the/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [A joyful life isn’t about others; it’s about the brightness that is associated with being alive. 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