A vacuum of ideas affects people differently than a vacuum of air, otherwise readers of books would be constantly collapsing.

Summary

This quote suggests that the lack of intellectual stimulation or creative ideas can have a profound impact on individuals, just as a literal vacuum of air would. However, unlike physical suffocation which is immediate and obvious, the effect of an intellectual vacuum is more gradual and indirect. If people were directly affected by a lack of new ideas, then frequent readers would constantly collapse under the weight of stagnant knowledge. It points to the importance of continuously seeking and engaging with new ideas to maintain mental vitality and enrichment.

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