The intellect is a very nice whirligig toy, but how people take it seriously is more than I can understand.

Summary

This quote is a critique of how people overly prioritize and value intellectual abilities. It suggests that while the intellect can be impressive and entertaining, it should not be taken too seriously. The speaker implies that intellectual pursuits may sometimes be trivialized or inflated in importance, questioning why people give such excessive weight and significance to something that is ultimately just a plaything or diversion. It hints at a skepticism towards the overvaluation of intellectual prowess and the neglect of other essential aspects of human existence.