In this Chautauqua I would like not to cut any new…
““In this Chautauqua I would like not to cut any new channels of consciousness but simply dig deeper into old ones that have become silted in with the debris of thoughts grown stale and platitudes too often repeated. “What’s new?” is an interesting and broadening eternal question, but one which, if pursued exclusively, results only in an endless parade of trivia and fashion, the silt of tomorrow. I would like, instead, to be concerned with the question “What is best?,” a question which cuts deeply rather than broadly, a question whose answers tend to move the silt downstream. There are eras of human history in which the channels of thought have been too deeply cut and no change was possible, and nothing new ever happened, and “best” was a matter of dogma, but that is not the situation now. Now the stream of our common consciousness seems to be obliterating its own banks, losing its central direction and purpose, flooding the lowlands, disconnecting and isolating the highlands and to no particular purpose other than the wasteful fulfillment of its own internal momentum. Some channel deepening seems called for.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage urges focusing on deep, meaningful inquiry (“What is best?”) rather than constantly seeking novelty, which can lead to superficiality and loss of purpose.
In simple terms: Seek depth over novelty.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize profound questions.
Themes
philosophy
meaning
depth
focus
purpose
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal development
- education reform
- organizational strategy
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Existentialism
critical thinking
cognitive depth
Questions to Reflect On
- What deeper question could guide your current work?
- How can you balance innovation with depth?
A Different Perspective
Constant novelty can distract from solving core problems.