Antiquity Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“We are underbred and low-lived and illiterate; and in this respect I confess I do not make any very broad distinction between theilliterateness of my townsman who cannot read at all and the illiterateness of him who has learned to read only what is for children and feeble intellects. We should be as good as the worthies of antiquity, but partly by first knowing how good they were.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Walden, Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Thoreau critiques contemporary superficial literacy, urging deeper, critical engagement with knowledge and moral exemplars of the past.
In simple terms: Modern reading is shallow; seek deeper understanding and moral models.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate profound learning and emulate virtuous ancestors.
Themes
education
morality
self-improvement
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal development
- academic study
- public discourse
- teaching
- self-education
Key Concepts
critical literacy
historical comparison
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we move beyond surface reading?
- What virtues from antiquity should we emulate?
A Different Perspective
Shallow literacy may persist despite efforts to deepen it.
