There is nothing men are so anxious to keep, and yet are so careless about, as life.
There is nothing men are so anxious to keep, and yet are so careless about, as life.
What did Jean de la Bruyere mean by:

There is nothing men are so anxious to keep, and yet are so careless about, as life.

People often ask:
What practices can we adopt to appreciate and take care of our lives more consciously?
How can we find a balance between enjoying life and maintaining our health?
In what ways can facing our mortality enhance our appreciation for life?

The quote, “There is nothing men are so anxious to keep, and yet are so careless about, as life” is a profound statement about the paradox of human nature and our attitude towards life. The quote suggests that while we are desperate to hold onto life, we often neglect to take care of it.

On one hand, we are deeply attached to life and its pleasures. We fear death and are anxious to avoid it at all costs. We strive to extend our lives through healthcare, fitness, diet, and various other means. This is the part where we are “anxious to keep” life.

On the other hand, we often take life for granted. We engage in unhealthy habits, ignore our mental and physical health, and often live stressful lives. We risk our lives for momentary pleasures, and often fail to appreciate the value of our existence until we face a crisis. This is the part where we are “careless about” life.

This paradox is perhaps more evident in today’s world. Despite the advancements in medical science and increased life expectancy, many people lead unhealthy lifestyles. They consume junk food, neglect exercise, overwork, and ignore mental health. Simultaneously, they are anxious about aging and death, and spend a fortune on healthcare and life-extending products.

In terms of personal development, this quote can be a reminder to value and take care of our lives. It encourages us to strike a balance between enjoying life and preserving it. We should not wait for a crisis to appreciate life, but cherish it every day. We should take care of our physical and mental health, and live in a way that sustains our life rather than depleting it. This quote can be a wake-up call to stop being careless about our most precious possession – life.

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