"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain"

This quote by Emily Dickinson speaks with the idea of living a significant life. It recommends that if one can make a positive difference in the life of another, then their life will not have actually been resided in vain. The quote suggests that the greatest contribution one can make is to avoid somebody from experiencing heartbreak. This could be analyzed as preventing someone from experiencing emotional pain, or it could be interpreted more literally as avoiding someone from experiencing a physical heartbreak. Either way, the quote recommends that if one can make a distinction in the life of another, then their life will have been meaningful. This is an effective pointer that even small acts of generosity can have an enduring influence on the lives of others.