Quote by Henry David Thoreau
There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world, and yet we tolerate incredible dulness. I need only suggest what kind of sermons are still listened to in the most enlightened countries. There are such words as joy and sorrow, but they are only the burden of a psalm, sung with a nasal twang, while we believe in the ordinary and mean.
Summary
This quote suggests that despite the constant arrival of new and exciting things in the world, we often tolerate and accept dullness. The speaker highlights the mundane nature of certain religious sermons that are still popular even in the most advanced societies. The mention of joy and sorrow being reduced to lifeless psalms, sung in a monotonous manner, reflects how we tend to believe in and focus on ordinary and insignificant things. Implicitly, the quote criticizes our tendency to overlook or undervalue the potential for novelty and genuine emotions in life.
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