It was childish to feel disappointed, but childishness comes almost as naturally to a man as to a child.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the natural human tendency to feel disappointment, likening it to childish behavior that persists into adulthood.
Isaac Asimov highlights the idea that disappointment is a universal emotion that can affect people of all ages, suggesting that even adults experience feelings often associated with children. This commentary serves to remind us that emotional responses can be a fundamental part of being human, regardless of our maturity or age.
In practice
In a speech about embracing our emotions, this quote could serve as a reminder that it's natural to feel disappointment.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that from puberty onwards, the female body is disgusting and unruly and must be tamed, trimmed and tinted to within an inch of its life before it can be allowed to roam freely in the public eye.
The abjection of our political situation is the only true challenge today. Only facing up to this situation in all its desperation can help us get out of it.
The good society is marked by a high degree of order, justice, and freedom. Among these, order has primacy: for justice cannot be enforced until a tolerable civil social order is attained, nor can freedom be anything better than violence until order gives us laws.
I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth ... that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.
Crime is contagious....if the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law.
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