In a great River great fish are found, but take heede, lest you bee drowned.

In a great River great fish are found, but take heede, lest you bee drowned.

George Herbert

“In a great River great fish are found, but take heede, lest you bee drowned” is a profound quote that can be interpreted at various levels. On the surface, it depicts the risk and reward scenario. The ‘great river’ symbolizes life’s vast opportunities or challenges while ‘great fish’ represents the rewards or achievements one can attain from these opportunities. However, there’s also a cautionary note – ‘lest you bee drowned’, indicating that while pursuing these rewards or navigating through life’s challenges, one must not lose themselves or get overwhelmed.

This quote is essentially a call for balance and mindfulness in pursuit of ambitions. It encourages us to strive for greatness but also reminds us of the inherent risks involved in such pursuits, urging us to tread carefully.

In today’s fast-paced world where success often equates to material wealth and social status, this quote holds significant relevance. People are constantly seeking bigger opportunities (the great river) hoping for larger rewards (the great fish). This could pertain to jobs with higher paychecks, investment ventures promising lucrative returns or even climbing social ladders.

However, in this relentless quest for more substantial accomplishments we may overlook our mental health and overall well-being – which corresponds to getting ‘drowned’. We might find ourselves overworked and stressed out due to excessive workload or high expectations; we might compromise on our values and ethics; we might neglect personal relationships; all of which can lead towards an unfulfilled life despite having materialistic gains.

So when applied in terms of personal development it suggests that while setting high goals is admirable one should also prioritize self-care by maintaining work-life balance; staying true to their values even if it means missing out on some opportunities; investing time in nurturing relationships alongside professional growth. In other words: Aim for the big fish but don’t let yourself drown into oblivion.

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