None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
The volatile truth of our words should continually betray the inadequacy of the residual statement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our words often fail to capture the true essence of our thoughts and feelings.
Henry David Thoreau highlights the limitations of language in conveying truth. He suggests that the volatility of our words may often reveal their inadequacy, indicating that words alone may struggle to fully express the complexity and depth of our thoughts, experiences, and emotions.
Themes
TruthWordsLanguageExpressionThoughtsInadequacy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the limitations of communication during a workshop.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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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.
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That grand old poem called Winter
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