This quote essentially highlights the contrast between two fundamental aspects of life – nourishment (nutriment) and waste (excrement). It suggests that our culture, society, and personal development tend to focus more on things that nourish us – physically, emotionally or intellectually. This could refer to anything from food and exercise to education and positive relationships. These are elements we can continually refine, improve upon or ‘culturally elaborate’.
On the other hand, excrement or waste is seen as something to be discarded without much thought. It’s a byproduct of consumption that we tend not to value in itself. The quote argues that there’s a limit to how much we can ‘culturally elaborate’ on waste because it’s viewed as inherently undesirable.
Applying this idea in today’s world could mean focusing more on what nourishes us while trying not to produce unnecessary waste. In terms of personal development, it might suggest investing time and energy into things that help us grow – like learning new skills or nurturing healthy relationships – instead of wasting resources on unproductive activities.
However, another perspective could argue for reevaluating our relationship with ‘waste’. In an era where sustainability is key due to environmental concerns, maybe there is room for cultural elaboration around reducing, reusing or recycling our ‘excrement’, both literal and metaphorical.
Overall though, the quote underscores the importance of prioritizing growth-enhancing activities over those which generate unwanted byproducts without adding value to our lives.
