The passage reflects on the changes in social norms and behavior, suggesting a decline in the quality of manners over time. The speaker notes that there seems to be a lack of good manners among people, indicating that the current state of civility is poor, if not worse than in the past. Despite this observation, there is a recognition that nostalgia for "the good old times" might be misplaced, as those times were likely not as good as some believe.

The speaker contemplates the balance between taking life seriously and treating it lightly. This inner reflection on how to approach life is tied to the broader themes of change in society and the conflict between idealism and reality. Ultimately, the speaker is pondering whether a serious or a humorous outlook is more appropriate in such a chaotic world.