--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is remarkable, but on the whole…" description: "\"It is remarkable, but on the whole, perhaps, not to be lamented, that the world is so unkind to a new book. Any distinguished traveler who comes to our..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/henry-david-thoreau-20_book_it-is-remarkable-but-on-the-whole-perhap_2640593.jpg" --- # It is remarkable, but on the whole, perhaps, not to be… ![“It is remarkable, but on the whole, perhaps, not to be lamented, that the world is so unkind to a new book. Any distinguished traveler who comes to our shores is likely to get more dinners and speeches of welcome than he can well dispose of, but the best books, if noticed at all, meet with…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/henry-david-thoreau-20_book_it-is-remarkable-but-on-the-whole-perhap_2640593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/henry-david-thoreau-20_book_it-is-remarkable-but-on-the-whole-perhap_2640593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/henry-david-thoreau-20_book_it-is-remarkable-but-on-the-whole-perhap_2640593.jpg) > “It is remarkable, but on the whole, perhaps, not to be lamented, that the world is so unkind to a new book. Any distinguished traveler who comes to our shores is likely to get more dinners and speeches of welcome than he can well dispose of, but the best books, if noticed at all, meet with coldness and suspicion, or, what is worse, gratuitous, off-hand criticism.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. New ideas often face hostility while familiar figures receive hospitality, highlighting society’s resistance to novelty. **In simple terms:** New books get cold reception, familiar guests get warm welcome. Key Takeaway Embrace and promote fresh ideas despite initial resistance. Themes novelty reception culture criticism hospitality Mood reflective critical hopeful Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - publishing - academic conferences - literary reviews - public speaking Key Concepts conformity social dynamics intellectual resistance Questions to Reflect On - How can we better support emerging voices? - What biases cause us to favor the familiar? A Different Perspective Even with criticism, some new works can gain acceptance over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-reading/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [New books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-books/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) [Traveler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traveler/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“The world was unkind to women. 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