That is actually a very cool quote. A related quote that you can use is from an ancient Chinese philosopher: “If I agree, things are the way they are. If I disagree, things are the way they are.” It means that you should be content with your lot in life, no matter what it is. If you don’t have much “light”, learn to love living in the “dark”. Tanizaki is arguing that the Western culture is not content to use what is naturally given to them. For them, “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Instead of being content with not having light, they insist on manufacturing their own. This is a statement about how Western culture does not honor or respect the natural world and has never learned to be thankful for the things they are given. Good luck.

Personally I am thinking “praise shadow” because it is the shadow that shows us the light to all possibility. Where there is shadow there is always more to learn. Some people are greedy so they are determined to be progressive – others tend to understand knowing gives creation and meets a need whether it be financial or meaningful or both!

A blind man knows darkness. From where does his light come? From within. He uses his sense of smell, touch and sound to light his soul to form mental images.

Darkness can also appear in form of depression. Dark times. From dark always comes light – depending upon outlook. Much wisdom is learnt from Dark because it can only give way to light. Sunrise – Sunset.

As for the next part about candle to oil lamp, oil lamp to gaslight – well I observe this as a physical advance in technology. One can be in pain or one can look out of a pane – choose your frame. I think the quote is about frame of mind. Thinking outside the square which I believe is a circle – anyways!

I am thinking this quote – which I have never heard – is about physical and metaphysical. I mean if you look in a mirror what do you see? Yourself? Or your reflection? First you have to see a mirror before you can begin to see anything. Once you look in a mirror I couldn’t guarantee what you might perceive – one thing for sure – a physical reflection in light – assuming it is daytime! Or the electricity is on! Someone had to think to create artificial light!, however they had to be aware that there was a need first.

These come to mind

Perceive and Conceive

Light and Dark

Positive and Negative

Creativity and Conformity

Need and Greed

All the best to you. This is a great quote that allowed me to use my brain and think upon and pass on my thoughts!

I’m gonna say it means sometimes it is best to accept things as they are and to stop trying to change things for what you think is better. Although I’d have to say that they use a poor example here since most anyone would agree it’s a good thing that we made the jump from candles to electricity. But the basic idea of just dig what you got is a good one.

I think he is trying to say that not everything needs to be or should be manipulated to suit our needs and satisfy our curiosity. That while some people can accept the darkness as it is and learn from it others must fight it and never learn anything except how to change something that was fine to begin with. Sometimes it is better to go with the flow and enjoy what life and nature offer. I may be way off but that is my theory.

the author’s use of going from candle to oil lamp to gaslight on up shows man’s need for more and more light hence his need for the brighter light. with the brighter light comes less darkness (albeit to me comes more intess shadowing)

Dichotomies have always been there: black and white, hot and cold, good and bad, light and shadow; for us to better appreciate them. The author is sad, that in quest of more and more light, we may forget that darkness also has its beauty,

fantastically positioned and inspiring. I agree different than for the frightened of the easy and not the darkish. maximum individuals are conscious of our very own darkish factor and concern it escaping the crevice we shove it into as quickly as we hit upon how that is delivered out by others. So, she is stable approximately shining her easy. regrettably, a super type of human beings do unlike people who shine, smile, look chuffed. I see it universal. attempt smiling at somebody interior the line, they think of you’re loopy. Too a lot of human beings get excitement from the employer of misery.

He is saying westerners are always tinkering with things just for the joy of tinkering. Presumably, easterners find joy in things just the way they are. That’s why westerners are progressive and presumably easterners are either regressive or conservative–or maybe just resigned?

well, an interpretation can be given by reading the whole essay still wat i could understand is :

the writing is about the praises of shadow .So here the writer seems to be regretting the advancements that have reduced the beauty of darkness.

Well it’s talking about bettering the situations. Linking it to the “american dream”, always wanting more than what our parents had and as parents always wanting to provided a better situations to you kids. versus the individual who is happy in the situation that they find themselves in.