What does the little poem mean?

It doesn't have a clear meaning in English.

Or even an obscure one.

You see, that quote is in "Le rouge et le noir" book from Stendhal.

It's now believed that Hobbes never said that.

Its purpose seems to be for the reader to create his own meaning..

It has one to me but apparently not for McT..

Well of course one can create one's own meaning
But in the context of a question from an English student
Does it have a meaning?
If the meaning is up to the interpretation of the individual
Then I would contend that it does not.
Or, it has many.

It means to me:
You can have a party and invite 100 people or have a party where you only invite 10. The 10 may be "less bad" (safer, more intimate, quieter) but it would be less joyful.

So . . . .invite everyone to the party, not just the selected few.

This could apply to having friends, too.

I believe it means the more the better but you will not be as happy when you have to count them.

it means u can have 1000 citizen under one monarc who will lead
wich is less bad for everyone ( resources, safety, etc ), but the cage less gay (joyful). / gay comes from the latin word "JOY" medievo. the most complex meaning of this qoute is that the meaning is not given by the interpreter but by the time itself.