The national distrust of the contemplative temperament arises less from an innate Philistinism than from a suspicion of anything that cannot be counted, stuffed, framed or mounted over the fireplace in the den.

Summary

This quote suggests that people generally distrust individuals with a contemplative temperament not because they are inherently uncultured, but because they are suspicious of anything intangible or immaterial. The society values material objects that can be quantified or displayed, while undervaluing abstract and philosophical ideas. The quote criticizes this cultural inclination, highlighting a preference for tangible possessions over the richness of intellectual and introspective experiences.

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