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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to Gandhi (appreciation of his mother); widely repeated but no primary source (the autobiography claim is unconfirmed).
About this quote
Some things are already whole in a way no decoration can improve. Trying to embellish them adds nothing and can even cheapen them. The idea points at a love so complete that ranking and polish miss the point entirely — its value sits in the bond itself, not in any feature you could grade.
When to use it
- A grown child stops trying to 'upgrade' a parent's plain home cooking and just savors it for what it is.
- Someone quits redecorating a childhood room they inherited, realizing its worth was never in the paint.
- A friend appreciates an old companion's simple loyalty instead of wishing they were more impressive.