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.
I believe there is a reason such as autism, severe manic-depression, and schizophrenia remain in our gene pool even though there is much suffering as a result.
I don't know who I am or who I was. I know it less than ever. I do and I don't identify myself with myself. Everything is totally contradictory, but maybe I have remained exactly as I was as a small boy of twelve.
Great bodies of people are never responsible for what they do.
Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
Woes and wonders of power, that tonic hell, synthesis of poison and panacea.
The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to make it the representative of a whole class.
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