Thomas Paine Quote. Please share your opinion.?

Question

"That which we obtain to easily, we esteem to lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value."

Answer 1

I think it means that if something is easy to get, then we don't appreciate it as much as something we have to work hard to get.

The things that we have to struggle the most to obtain are dearer to us than if it is just handed to us.

Believe it or not, I see this in my 8 year old grandson's actions too. If he is just given something say as a present, while he does take care of it, he doesn't treat it like something he had to spend his own money on.

Answer 2

Best to read it in context: note "too" versus "to"


The Crisis by Thomas Paine
December 23, 1776
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

Answer 3

It pretty much means anything that is obtained easily, without some kind of hard work, or sacrifice will have a lack of respect and sense of deporecaited value as oppose to something that has been worked hard for and truly earned.

Paine's quote is clearly true, everybody knows that money you have worked hard for and earned is harder to spend on silly things because you know the blood swea and tears that went into it, as oppose to say money that is just given to a person.

Good quote.

Answer 4

astonishing to benefit it in context: be conscious "too" as against "to" The disaster via Thomas Paine December 23, 1776 those are the situations that attempt person adult males's souls. The summer time soldier and the easy patriot will, in this disaster, cut back from the provider of their u . s .; yet he that stands via it now, reward the affection and thank you of guy and woman. Tyranny, like hell, isn't surely conquered; yet we've this convenience with us, that the greater suitable solid the conflict, the greater suitable dazzling the triumph. What we get carry of an extreme volume of less costly, we esteem too gently: that's dearness basically that factors each and each element its fee. Heaven is unsleeping the thank you to place a suitable fee upon its products; and it must be unusual actual if so celestial slightly bit writing as FREEDOM should not be incredibly rated. Britain, with a protection rigidity to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a perfect (now not basically to TAX) yet "to BIND us in ALL situations by using any ability" and if being specific in that way, isn't slavery, then is there now not one in each of those element as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for hence limitless a ability can belong basically to God.

Answer 5

Too easily, too lightly.
It means no pain, no gain. Anything worth having is worth working for. In other words, things that come too easily aren't appreciated the way something that we've really had to work for is. Dearness here means costliness. When achieving something takes time, thought, energy and effort, we're much more likely to value the result.

Answer 6

The word "dear" refers to expensive-either costing a lot of money or costing something else valuable like your health, your peace of mind or your joy for life.

Things handed to someone are treated like nothing important.
Things we must work for or pay a price for, we value becuase there has been an exchange that was equal.