None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it.
Interpretation
Many claim to appreciate music, yet their actions often reveal otherwise.
Thoreau points out the contradiction between people's claims of loving music and their actual engagement with it. He suggests that true appreciation of music should reflect in their actions and choices, rather than being merely a verbal declaration.
In practice
In a discussion about the role of art in society, this quote highlights the importance of genuine engagement.
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
That grand old poem called Winter
A work of art is a world in itself reflecting senses and emotions of the artist's world.
Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist which alone is significant - they should look attentively at my pictures and there seek to recognise what I am and what I want.
If the script's good, everything you need is in there. I just try and feel it, and do it honestly. I also don't learn things for auditions, because I feel like it's just a test of memorizing rather than being real. Maybe every other actor would think that was terrible, I don't know. But it seems to have worked for me, so far.
The artist part of me always wants to be appreciated. I read every review. But I never wanted to seek validation by awards or anything controlled by politics.
I've made movies that I thought were okay, but then I was very good. And sometimes you're in a movie and you think, 'I wish more people saw that' - because you're good. And it just works out that the movie gets lost. But that's show business.
I would build a cloudy House For my thoughts to live in; When for earth too fancy-loose And too low for Heaven! Hush! I talk my dream aloud - I build it bright to see, - I build it on the moonlit cloud, To which I looked with thee.
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