To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous HuxleyRead
A child-like man is not a man whose development has been arrested; on the contrary, he is a man who has given himself a chance of continuing to develop long after most adults have muffled themselves in the cocoon of middle-aged habit and convention.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of curiosity and openness to growth, even as one ages.
Aldous Huxley's quote highlights that a 'child-like man' is not one who is stuck in immaturity, but rather someone who embraces lifelong learning and self-development. It criticizes the tendency of adults to become rigid and conform to societal norms, suggesting that true maturity involves maintaining wonder and the capacity to grow throughout life.
Themes
GrowthDevelopmentCuriosityMaturityChild-LikeOpenness
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage adults to pursue new hobbies and interests.
More from Aldous Huxley
All quotes →Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
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In the course of history many more people have died for their drink and their dope than have died for their religion or their country.
Aldous HuxleyRead
On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
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No man ever dared to manifest his boredom so insolently as does a Siamese tomcat when he yawns in the face of his amorously importunate wife.
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The leech's kiss, the squid's embrace, The prurient ape's defiling touch: And do you like the human race? No, not much.
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Avoid the tyranny of the reasonable voice...it will guarantee a complacency of never trying anything adventurous.
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Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here. Believe in kissing.
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Whatever the job you are asked to do at whatever level, do a good job because your reputation is your resume.
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Learning to be silent is far more difficult and far more important than learning to recite prayers.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I Of ConstantinopleRead