This quote is essentially a metaphor for life. It uses the imagery of a traveler nearing the end of their journey, yet instead of lightening their load, they are adding more to their luggage. This is a critique of the greed often seen in older individuals who, despite nearing the end of their lives, continue to accumulate wealth and possessions.
In the metaphor, “luggage” represents material wealth and possessions, while “journey’s end” represents the end of life. The absurdity lies in the fact that as one nears death, the practical use of material wealth diminishes. One cannot take their wealth with them beyond life, so it seems irrational to continue hoarding it instead of using it in ways that could improve the quality of their remaining life or the lives of others.
In today’s world, this idea could be applied in a critique of the wealth accumulation seen in some of the world’s richest individuals. Despite already having more wealth than they could possibly spend in their lifetimes, they continue to amass more. This behavior could be seen as “absurd” in the same way Cicero describes.
In terms of personal development, this quote encourages us to evaluate what we truly value in life. It suggests that we should focus less on material possessions and more on experiences, relationships, and personal growth. As we age, we should seek to lighten our burdens, not add to them. This could mean letting go of unnecessary possessions, but it could also mean letting go of grudges, regrets, and other negative emotions that weigh us down. In this sense, the quote is not just a critique of greed, but also a call to live a simpler, more meaningful life.