This quote, “Who shuts his hand has lost his gold, Who opens it hath it twice told”, conveys the idea that generosity and openness lead to abundance. When one ‘shuts their hand’, or clings tightly to something (in this case, gold), they risk losing it. This could be due to fear of loss, greed, or an inability to let go. In contrast, ‘opening one’s hand’, or being generous and open with what one has can result in having even more – hence the phrase ‘hath it twice told’.
The metaphorical use of ‘hand’ and ‘gold’ is significant here. The hand represents action or giving while the gold symbolizes wealth – not just material wealth but also knowledge, love, kindness etc. So when we freely give these things away without fear of depletion we actually gain more.
Applying this principle in today’s world could mean various things depending upon context:
1) In personal development: It might refer to sharing your knowledge with others rather than hoarding information for fear of competition. By teaching others you reinforce your own understanding and often learn new things yourself.
2) In business: Companies that are generous with their resources – whether that means investing in their employees’ growth or contributing positively towards society – tend to reap rewards in terms of loyalty and goodwill which often translates into financial success.
3) In relationships: Being generous with love and kindness leads not only receiving more affection but also nurturing a deeper connection.
4) In society at large: If those who have plenty are willing to share with those who have less (whether through charity work or policies like progressive taxation), society as a whole becomes richer.
Therefore this quote encourages us not just towards generosity but also towards letting go of scarcity mindset where we feel we need to hold onto everything tightly for fear there won’t be enough left for us.
