It's not how long, but how well, we live.
Meaning: Quality of life matters more than its duration; meaningful living trumps mere longevity.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Wisdom
- The longest liver dies at last. — Everyone eventually faces mortality, regardless of how long they manage to live.
- He that lives not well one year sorrows for it seven. — Poor choices compound over time; a year of vice breeds seven years of regret and conseque…
- He liveth long that liveth well. — Living virtuously extends life's value beyond mere years; quality of conduct outlasts qua…
- A living dog is better than a dead lion. — Present survival and humble circumstances outweigh past glory or noble defeat.
- You needn't lock the stable door when the steed is stolen. — Prevention before loss occurs matters far more than remedies applied after damage is done.
- They look one way and row another. — Deceptive intentions hidden beneath outward appearances guide people toward false destina…