This paradoxical statement suggests that true wealth or lasting value isn't found in what we hoard, but in what we share. It implies that acts of generosity, selflessness, and giving to others ultimately enrich our own lives and leave a more enduring legacy than material possessions.
Quote by Earl Lovelace: “What you give away is what you keep.”
What you give away is what you keep.
Insight
Historical Context
Set in a Port of Spain yard in Trinidad, this novel explores the spirit of carnival and community resistance against poverty and colonial legacies, emphasizing the value of collective identity over individual gain.
About the Author
Trinidadian novelist and playwright whose work celebrates the cultural and spiritual life of ordinary Trinidadians. His 1979 novel The Dragon Can't Dance remains one of the finest portraits of Carnival as a site of community, resistance, and identity in Caribbean literature.
View all quotes by Earl Lovelace