God how I hate new countries: They are older than the old, more sophisticated, much more conceited, only young in a certain puerile vanity more like senility than anything.
The world fears a new experience more than it fears anything. Because a new experience displaces so many old experiences. . . . The world doesn't fear a new idea. It can pigeon-hole any idea. But it can't pigeon-hole a real new experience.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People are often more apprehensive about new experiences than new ideas because the former can challenge their established beliefs and routines.
D. H. Lawrence's quote emphasizes the idea that human beings tend to be more afraid of new experiences than anything else, as these experiences have the potential to disrupt and replace longstanding beliefs and habits. While new ideas may be easily categorized and dismissed, real experiences force individuals to confront and navigate uncharted territories, which can provoke discomfort and fear.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech, one might say, 'Remember, the world fears a new experience more than anything - embrace it during your next challenge.'
More from D. H. Lawrence
All quotes βA young man is afraid of his demon and puts his hand over the demon's mouth sometimes and speaks for him. And the things the young man says are very rarely poetry.
And besides, look at elder flowers and bluebells-they are a sign that pure creation takes place - even the butterfly. But humanity never gets beyond the caterpillar stage -it rots in the chrysalis, it never will have wings.It is anti-creation, like monkeys and baboons.
The Christian fear of the pagan outlook has damaged the whole consciousness of man.
The cosmos is a vast living body, of which we are still parts. The sun is a great heart whose tremors run through our smallest veins. The moon is a great nerve center from which we quiver forever. Who knows the power that Saturn has over us, or Venus? But it is a vital power, rippling exquisitely through us all the time.
... he preferred his own madness, to the regular sanity. He rejoiced in his own madness, he was free. He did not want that old sanity of the world, which was become so repulsive. He rejoiced in the new-found world of his madness. It was so fresh and delicate and so satisfying.
Similar quotes
I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing and shooting. You have the change it by creating and competing.
So easy to fall into a rut, isn't it? Why should ruts be so comfortable and so unpopular?
Personal, inner change without a change in circumstances and structures is an idealist illusion, as though man were only a soul and not a body as well.
Change your mind about something significant every day.
When I stepped away two springs ago, I just really wanted to shift my priorities to be able to be more available and present to show up for things that I felt were mattering more than being a professional athlete.
For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.