It takes a wonderful brain and exquisite senses to produce a few stupid ideas.
George SantayanaRead
America is a young country with an old mentality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while America is a relatively new nation, its mindset reflects outdated beliefs and values.
George Santayana's quote highlights the contrast between America's historical youth and the persistence of antiquated perspectives among its people. It implies that despite the country's innovation and progress, there remains a holdover of traditional ideologies that can hinder growth and adaptation in a rapidly changing world. In this way, it invites reflection on the importance of evolving one’s mindset to embrace new ideas and realities, rather than clinging to the past.
Themes
AmericaMentalityChangeTraditionPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on cultural change in America, one might quote this to emphasize the need for a shift in thinking.
More from George Santayana
All quotes →The working of great institutions is mainly the result of a vast mass of routine, petty malice, self interest, carelessness and sheer mistake. Only a residual fraction is thought.
George SantayanaRead
There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. The dark background which death supplies brings out the tender colours of life in all their purity.
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Not to believe in love is a great sign of dullness. There are some people so indirect and lumbering that they think all real affection rests on circumstantial evidence.
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To feel beauty is a better thing than to understand how we come to feel it. To have imagination and taste, to love the best, to be carried by the contemplation of nature to a vivid faith in the ideal, all this is more, a great deal more, than any science can hope to be.
George SantayanaRead
The vital straining towards an ideal, definite but latent, when it dominates a whole life, may express that ideal more fully than could the best chosen words.
George SantayanaRead
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