In the dying world I come from quotation is a national vice. It used to be the classics, now it's lyric verse.

Summary

This quote suggests that in a declining society, quoting literature or poetry is a prevalent habit that is seen as a negative characteristic. The speaker implies that in their world, quoting ancient literature used to be the norm but now has shifted to quoting contemporary poetry. This highlights how people might use quotations as a way of showcasing knowledge or intelligence, but in a dying world, it becomes a mere vice rather than a meaningful exchange of ideas or cultural appreciation.

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