Cleanliness.—In the child, the sense for cleanliness should be fanned into a passion, and then later on he will raise himself, in ever new phases, to almost every virtue, and will finally appear, in compensation for all talent, as a shining cloud of purity, temperance, gentleness, and character, happy in himself and spreading happiness around.

Meaning: The saying prefers a position others envy to one they pity, treating envy as a sign of apparent advantage. That comparison exposes a concern with social standing rather than proving that either reaction accurately describes someone’s life.

Meaning: Recognising your mistakes early can leave more time to change unhelpful habits. Treat that recognition as an opportunity to learn rather than a reason to define yourself by what went wrong.

Meaning: A satisfactory outcome can make earlier trouble feel less important. People may judge a difficult experience more positively once its main problem has been resolved.

Meaning: The saying gives married men a more intense laugh than bachelors, extending it until their hearts ache. The apparent praise carries a possible hint of pain.