To give the devil its due, ours is the best Age men ever…
““To give the devil its due, ours is the best Age men ever lived in; we are all more comfortable and virtuous than we ever were; we have many new accomplishments, advertisements in green pastures, telephones in bedrooms, more newspapers than we want to read, and extremely punctilious diagnosis of maladies. A doctor examined a young lady the other day, and among his notes were there: ‘Not afraid of small rooms, ghosts, or thunderstorms – not made drunk by hearing Wagner; brown hair, artistic hands; had a craving for chocolate in 1918.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote satirically lists modern comforts and achievements while hinting at underlying anxieties and moral complacency.
In simple terms: Modern comforts mask deeper anxieties and moral issues.
Key Takeaway
Question the true cost of progress.
Themes
society
modernity
morality
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban life
- health diagnostics
- cultural critique
Key Concepts
technological advancement
psychological discomfort
Questions to Reflect On
- What comforts make us complacent?
- How can we balance advancement with moral vigilance?
A Different Perspective
Progress may breed new forms of unease.