We are accustomed to say in New England that few and fewer…
““We are accustomed to say in New England that few and fewer pigeons visit us every year. Our forests furnish no mast for them. So, it would seem, few and fewer thoughts visit each growing man from year to year, for the grove in our minds is laid waste, — sold to feed unnecessary fires of ambition, or sent to mill, and there is scarcely a twig left for them to perch on. They no longer build nor breed with us. In some more genial season, perchance, a faint shadow flits across the landscape of the mind, cast by the wings of some thought in its vernal or autumnal migration, but, looking up, we are unable to detect the substance of the thought itself. Our winged thoughts are turned to poultry. They no longer soar….””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern life crowds the mind, leaving little space for deep reflection, turning thoughts into trivialities.
In simple terms: Busy minds lose depth of thought.
Key Takeaway
Create mental space for reflection.
Themes
modernity
thought
distraction
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- daily commute
- social media scrolling
- work meetings
- creative work
Key Concepts
mindfulness
cognitive overload
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What mental habits can you change?
- How do you reclaim quiet thinking?
A Different Perspective
Constant stimulation can hinder focus.