Capacity for the nobler feelings is in most natures a very…
““Capacity for the nobler feelings is in most natures a very tender plant, easily killed, not only by hostile influences, but by mere want of sustenance; and in the majority of young persons it speedily dies away if the occupations to which their position in life has devoted them, and the society into which it has thrown them, are not favourable to keeping that higher capacity in exercise. Men lose their high aspirations as they lose their intellectual tastes, because they have not time or opportunity for indulging them; and they addict themselves to inferior pleasures, not because they deliberately prefer them, but because they are either the only ones to which they have access, or the only ones which they are any longer capable of enjoying.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Higher moral feelings are delicate and can with easily if not nurtured by supportive environments and intellectual pursuits.
In simple terms: Noble feelings need care and stimulation to survive.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate supportive settings and intellectual habits.
Themes
educationivation
intellectual growth
environment
self‑development
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- Education
- career choices
- social circles
- leisure activities
Key Concepts
Moral psychology
human nature
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society provide nurturing environments for all?
- What personal habits sustain higher aspirations?
A Different Perspective
If one lacks access to enriching experiences, the capacity may with irreversibly.