"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after"
- Henry David Thoreau
About this Quote
This quote by Henry David Thoreau is a suggestion that life has to do with more than simply the pursuit of product things. It suggests that many individuals spend their lives chasing things that do not truly bring them complete satisfaction or fulfillment. Fishing is used as a metaphor for the pursuit of product things, such as money, power, and status. The quote indicates that these pursuits are ultimately useless, as they can not bring real happiness or satisfaction. It suggests that individuals ought to instead focus on things that bring them happiness and significance, such as relationships, pastimes, and experiences. Thoreau's quote is a tip that life is about more than simply the pursuit of material things, and that true happiness originates from pursuing things that bring us delight and fulfillment.