Psychology Quote by Virginia Woolf
““Somehow the fact that only three or four hundred years ago these skeletons had been men with their way to make in the world like any modern upstart, and that they had made it by acquiring houses and offices, garters and ribbands, as any other upstart does, while poets, perhaps, and men of great mind and breeding had preferred the quietude of the country, for which choice they paid the penalty by extreme poverty, and now hawked broadsheets in the Strand, or herded sheep in the fields, filled her with remorse.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Modernist Reflections, early 20th century
The quote contrasts the rise of material success among ordinary people with the poverty of intellectuals who chose rural quiet, highlighting societal values and personal choices.
In simple terms: Success often favors the pragmatic over the idealist.
Key Takeaway
Balance ambition with appreciation for intellectual pursuits.
Themes
society
class
ambition
art
poverty
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
social commentary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- artistic pursuits
- urban vs rural living
- financial decisions
Key Concepts
modernism
social critique
economic disparity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prioritize material success or intellectual fulfillment?
- How does society reward different paths?
A Different Perspective
Idealists may neglect practical survival needs.
