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It is childish to rest in the discovery of mere coincidences, or of partial and extraneous laws.
Henry David Thoreau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of seeking deeper understanding rather than settling for superficial observations.

Henry David Thoreau suggests that it is naive to be satisfied with finding mere coincidences or incomplete explanations for events and phenomena. Instead, he encourages a pursuit of deeper truths that transcend simple cause-and-effect reasoning, indicating that true wisdom lies in understanding the underlying principles that govern life.

Themes

CoincidencesWisdomUnderstandingTruthLaws

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture on scientific inquiry, to illustrate the importance of looking beyond surface-level observations.

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None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
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