Beans Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Pride can go without domestics, without fine clothes, can live in a house with two rooms, can eat potato, purslain, beans, lyed corn, can work on the soil, can travel afoot, can talk with poor men, or sit silent well contented with fine saloons. But vanity costs money, labor, horses, men, women, health and peace, and is still nothing at last; a long way leading nowhere.--Only one drawback; proud people are intolerably selfish, and the vain are gentle and giving.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self‑Reliance, 1841
True contentment comes from simple, honest living; vanity demands excess and leads to emptiness.
In simple terms: Simple life brings peace; vanity brings cost.
Key Takeaway
Choose modesty over vanity.
Themes
contentment
vanity
humility
materialism
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- living simply
- budgeting
- community service
- mindful consumption
- career choices
Key Concepts
ethics
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does "vanity" look like in your life?
- How can you find fulfillment without material excess?
A Different Perspective
Vanity can be socially reinforced, making it hard to resist.
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