None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny and trivial.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Thoreau highlights the profound wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita, contrasting it with the superficiality of contemporary literature.
In this quote, Thoreau expresses his deep appreciation for the philosophical teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. He believes that the insights offered in this ancient text are so vast and significant that they dwarf the concerns and works of modern society, which he views as lacking depth and substance. By 'bathing' his intellect in such profound thought, Thoreau suggests that true enlightenment comes from engaging with timeless wisdom rather than the fleeting ideas of his own time.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of philosophy in education, this quote could emphasize the value of timeless wisdom.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough 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
Similar quotes
You see, the deaf have an intimacy with silence. Itβs there in their dreams.
New Orleans - the real New Orleans - is the soul of the country.
The substance of man cannot be measured by Gross National Product.
The most important problems we face are complex, and require sustained attention. But we don't speak in terms of nuance or complexity. Is that by accident? It's because our minds have been entrained to expect shorter and shorter bite-sized bits.
Power corrupts, and there is nothing more corrupting than power exercised in secret.
My Brain and My Heart are my Temples. My true Religion is Kindness.