people who lived in the mountains knew that all the truly great things had already been accomplished. They did not need to imagine ladders that would lead to heaven, or things of massive size that would astound the heart, because they had them in such profusion that it was difficult to get from town to town, and because of them the sun itself often was denied a chance to shine, or forced to break in gold through opaque ridges of ice and snow whiter than physics would allow.
In Mark Helprin's "A Soldier of the Great War," the inhabitants of the mountains possess a profound understanding that true greatness has already been achieved in their surroundings. They do not feel the need to create grand imaginings of ascension or marvels of immense scale because their lives are filled with exceptional beauty and experiences that far exceed ordinary expectations. The richness of their environment is so overwhelming that even the sun struggles to shine through the dense layers of ice and snow that characterize their landscape.
This passage highlights the deep appreciation these mountain dwellers have for their natural surroundings, which prevents them from longing for anything beyond their immediate reality. The sheer abundance of beauty and greatness present in their lives renders them content, as they experience the overwhelming majesty that nature has to offer. This connection to their environment fosters a sense of fulfillment and gratitude that transcends the need for aspirational dreams, anchoring them firmly in a world where extraordinary things are a daily occurrence.
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