I am no scientist. I explore the neighbourhood. An infant who has just learned to hold his head up has a frank and forthright way of gazing about him in bewilderment. He hasn't the faintest clue where he is, and he aims to learn. In a couple of years, what he will have learned instead is how to fake it: he'll have the cocksure air of a squatter who has come to feel he owns the place. Some unwonted, taught pride diverts us from our original intent, which is to explore the neighbourhood, view the landscape, to discover at least WHERE it is that we have been so startlingly set down, if we can't learn why. Annie Dillard
About This Quote

"We explore the neighbourhood", refers to an event that happened in the past and happen in the present. "An infant who has just learned to hold his head up has a frank and forthright way of gazing about him in bewilderment" is referring to the initial excitement of something new or different. "He hasn't the faintest clue where he is, and he aims to learn". This is referring to the child's curiosity.

The child wants to know where he is but due to lack of knowledge, does not know how to find out. "In a couple of years, what he will have learned instead is how to fake it: he'll have the cocksure air of a squatter who has come to feel he owns the place". This is referring back why this person was brought here through out his journey.

Source: Pilgrim At Tinker Creek

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