No man is much regarded by the rest of the world. He that considers how little he dwells upon the condition of others, will learn how little the attention of others is attracted by himself. While we see multitudes passing before us, of whom perhaps not one appears to deserve our notice or excites our sympathy, we should remember, that we likewise are lost in the same throng, that the eye which happens to glance upon us is turned in a moment on him that follows us, and that the utmost which we can reasonably hope or fear is to fill a vacant hour with prattle, and be forgotten.

Summary

This quote shows that in the grand scheme of things, individuals are not highly regarded or noticed by the world. It highlights the reality that people tend to focus little on the conditions or lives of others, which reveals how little attention is directed towards oneself as well. Even though countless people pass by us, we often find that none of them capture our attention or evoke our sympathy. This should remind us that we are just as easily lost in the midst of the crowd, with others quickly shifting their focus to the person following us. Ultimately, the most we can hope for is a momentary conversation and then be forgotten.

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