Mr. Trask, do you think the thoughts of people suddenly become important at a given age? Do you have sharper feelings or clearer thoughts now than when you were ten? Do you see as well, hear as well, taste as vitally?" "Maybe you're right," said Adam. "It's one of the great fallacies, it seems to me," said Lee, "that time gives much of anything but years and sadness to a man." "And memory." "Yes, memory. Without that, time would be unarmed against us.
In the dialogue, Mr. Trask prompts Adam to ponder whether people's thoughts and feelings become more significant as they age. He questions if maturity brings sharper perceptions and enhanced experiences of the world around them compared to childhood. However, Adam seems uncertain of the value that age brings to one's internal landscape.
Lee counters Adam’s uncertainty by suggesting that time largely bestows merely years and sadness rather than wisdom or clarity. He emphasizes the crucial role of memory, indicating that it serves as a protective mechanism against the emotional toll of time, allowing one to retain a sense of self and continuity amidst inevitable changes.
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