--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Letter-writing too often degenerates into…" description: "\"Letter-writing too often degenerates into a communicating of facts, and not of truths; of other men's deeds and not our thoughts.What are the convulsio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/henry-david-thoreau-20_communicate_letter-writing-too-often-degenerates-int_1830285.jpg" --- # Letter-writing too often degenerates into a communicating… ![“Letter-writing too often degenerates into a communicating of facts, and not of truths; of other men's deeds and not our thoughts.What are the convulsions of a planet, compared with the emotions of the soul? or the rising of a thousand suns, if that is not enlightened by a ray?” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/henry-david-thoreau-20_communicate_letter-writing-too-often-degenerates-int_1830285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/henry-david-thoreau-20_communicate_letter-writing-too-often-degenerates-int_1830285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/henry-david-thoreau-20_communicate_letter-writing-too-often-degenerates-int_1830285.jpg) > “Letter-writing too often degenerates into a communicating of facts, and not of truths; of other men's deeds and not our thoughts.What are the convulsions of a planet, compared with the emotions of the soul? or the rising of a thousand suns, if that is not enlightened by a ray?” [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. Letter writing often becomes a factual report rather than a conveyance of deeper truths; the vast, dramatic events of the world pale in significance compared to the inner emotions of the soul. **In simple terms:** Letters can be shallow; soul matters more. Key Takeaway Seek truth in communication. Themes communication truth inner life perception scale Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal journaling - creative writing - spiritual counseling - educational curricula Key Concepts philosophy literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance truth and fact? - What inner emotions guide your actions? A Different Perspective Focusing only on inner feelings may ignore external realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Letter writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letter-writing/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/he-who-hears-the-rippling-of-rivers-in-these-degenerate-days-will-not/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It would seem as if the very language of our parlors would lose all its nerve and degenerate into palaver wholly, our lives pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-would-seem-as-if-the-very-language-of-our-parlors-would-lose-all/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When our life ceases to be inward and private, conversation degenerates into mere gossip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-our-life-ceases-to-be-inward-and-private-conversation/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It must be confessed that horses at present work too exclusively for men, rarely men for horses; and the brute degenerates in man's society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-must-be-confessed-that-horses-at-present-work-too-exclusively-for/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There may be something petty in a refined taste; it easily degenerates into effeminacy. 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