"Once there were two brothers: one ran away to sea, the other was elected Vice-President-and nothing was ever heard from either of them again"

This quote by Thomas R. Marshall is a funny method of revealing the idea that people can vanish from the general public eye without a trace. The 2 bros in the quote represent 2 different courses in life. The first bro escaped to sea, recommending a life of experience and expedition. The 2nd bro was elected Vice-President, recommending a life of power and influence. Despite the various courses they picked, neither sibling was ever heard from again. This quote suggests that no matter how successful or ambitious an individual is, they can still disappear without a trace. It also recommends that life is unforeseeable which no one can forecast what will take place in the future. Eventually, this quote functions as a pointer to value today and maximize every opportunity.