Those born to wealth, and who have the means of gratifying every wish, know not what is the real happiness of life, just as those who have been tossed on the stormy waters of the ocean on a few frail planks can alone realize the blessings of fair weather.

Alexandre Dumas
About This Quote

The first two sentences of this quote are an idealization of the lives of the wealthy. The first sentence describes the people who “know not what is the real happiness of life, just as those who have been tossed on the stormy waters of the ocean on a few frail planks can alone realize the blessings of fair weather.” This idealization portrays them as people who are ignorant of life’s real meaning, like children who cannot appreciate possessions because they have never experienced true hardship. The third sentence is an example of this idealization in action. It tells us that “those who have been tossed on the stormy waters of the ocean on a few frail planks can alone realize the blessings of fair weather” only if they are fortunate enough to be wealthy enough to buy their own boat. It says that wealth will ensure their happiness because only wealth allows them to purchase their own makeshift rafts.

Source: The Count Of Monte Cristo

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