None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Why should I feel lonely? is not our planet in the Milky Way?
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the idea of connection and belonging, emphasizing that we are part of a larger universe.
Henry David Thoreau questions the feeling of loneliness by reminding us of our place in the vast Milky Way galaxy. This suggests that even in moments of solitude, one can find comfort in the thought that we are part of a larger existence, interconnected with the universe and all its elements, which can alleviate feelings of isolation.
In practice
In a speech about mental health at a community gathering, you might quote Thoreau to highlight the importance of feeling connected to the greater universe.
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
That grand old poem called Winter
Two kinds of people live a life without care: one kind are extremely worthy of praise, the other kind are extremely worthy of criticism. The first are those who care nothing for the pleasures of the world and the second (i.e. those who are deserving of criticism) care nothing for haya or modesty.
I have to confess that I had gambled on my soul and lost it with heroic insouciance and lightness of touch. The soul is so impalpable, so often useless, and sometimes such a nuisance, that I felt no more emotion on losing it than if, on a stroll, I had mislaid my visiting card.
Religion is like a pair of shoes.....Find one that fits for you, but don't make me wear your shoes.
If God is the Creator of all things and evil is a thing, then God is the Creator of evil and He is to be blamed for its existence. No, evil is not a thing but a wrong choice, or the damage done by a wrong choice. Evil is no more a positive thing than blindness is, but it is just as real.
All of us are citizens in a republic much larger than the Republic of America. It is the Republic of Letters, a realm of the mind that extends everywhere, without police, national boundaries, or disciplinary frontiers.
United Nations peacekeepers are going all over the world spreading AIDS even while they're trying to bring peace. What a supreme irony.
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