Seems to me you put too much stock in the affairs of children. It probably didn't meananything.""Yes, it meant something." Then he said, "Mr. Trask, do you think the thoughts ofpeople 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.
The conversation touches on the significance of childhood thoughts and feelings, suggesting that society undervalues them. Lee challenges the idea that a person's emotional insights and clarity improve with age, arguing instead that growing older often brings more sorrow rather than wisdom. He questions whether adults have more profound perceptions than children do, implying that the essence of perception might remain constant regardless of age.
Lee emphasizes the role of memory in defining our experiences over time, asserting that it is through memory that we find relevance in our past. Without it, time would lose its impact, leaving us defenseless against the challenges of life. This exchange invites readers to reflect on the value of early emotions and memories, suggesting that they hold enduring significance that transcends age.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
