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.
In economics, the majority is always wrong.
Hypocrisy is wretched because the hypocrite says with his tongue what is not in his heart. He wrongs his tongue and oppresses his heart. But if the heart is sound, the condition of the tongue follows suit. We are commanded to be upright in speech, which is a gauge of the heart's state.
God does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give us the more largely.
In our hyper-secular world, worship is still inevitable. But it is vital to remember that our gods don't choose us, we choose them.
Racism should never have happened and so you don't get a cookie for reducing it.
I believe my religion is the truth, but I am not the truth and the truth doesn't belong to me I'm trying to belong to the truth.
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