Well, they want to FEEL earnest,” Mr. Touchett allowed…
““Well, they want to FEEL earnest,” Mr. Touchett allowed; “but it seems as if they took it out in theories mostly. Their radical views are a kind of amusement; they’ve got to have some amusement, and they might have coarser tastes than that. You see they’re very luxurious, and these progressive ideas are about their biggest luxury. They make them feel moral and yet don’t damage their position. They think a great deal of their position; don’t let one of them ever persuade you he doesn’t, for if you were to proceed on that basis you’d be pulled up very short.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Critiques intellectuals who use lofty theories as a luxury, avoiding real moral impact.
In simple terms: Ideas can become a comfortable escape from responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Ground ideas in concrete action.
Themes
intellectualism
luxury
morality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- political activism
- personal ethics
Key Concepts
theory vs practice
elitism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you turn theory into practice?
- What luxuries mask moral complacency?
A Different Perspective
Intellectual detachment can hinder progress.