Literary notes about Influx (AI summary)
The term "influx" has been employed in literature with notable versatility. In historical and sociological texts, it often captures the physical or metaphorical flow of people into a region, as seen in accounts of migration in works like those by Thucydides [1] and Flom [2], [3], [4], [5], as well as in discussions of foreign populations in Britain [6] and even in metaphorical invasions, such as the arrival of Russian Jews in England [7]. Beyond the demographic, authors have applied "influx" abstractly to denote a surge of ideas, qualities, or sensations. Thoreau uses it to illustrate the continuous arrival of novelty and better thoughts into society [8], [9], while Emerson extends its reach to more ethereal realms such as truth, virtue, and divinity [10], [11], [12]. In a physical context, Verne vividly portrays an influx as a torrent of water forcefully entering a compartment [13]. This multifaceted usage underscores "influx" as a powerful metaphor for both tangible and intangible forces reshaping environments and consciousness.
- An aggravation of the existing calamity was the influx from the country into the city, and this was especially felt by the new arrivals.
— from The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - The year 1844 brought a large influx of settlers, chiefly from Tele marken, but in part also from Voss.
— from A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States by George T. Flom - The year’s influx is significant in the large number of districts in Norway represented, Telemarken leading as has been pointed out above.
— from A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States by George T. Flom - The influx of immigrants from Telemarken and Numedal continues, and in increased numbers from Voss and the movement begins anew in Hardanger in 1846.
— from A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States by George T. Flom - But the influx from Land did not begin until 1847.
— from A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States by George T. Flom - Towards the end of last century the great influx of foreigners into Britain, and into London in particular, drew public attention to the matter.
— from The New Gresham Encyclopedia. A to Amide by Various - Even sea-girt England has received various intruding peoples, from the Roman occupation to the recent influx of Russian Jews.
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. Burgess and Robert Ezra Park - There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world, and yet we tolerate incredible dulness.
— from Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau - So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts.
— from Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau - Nature, truth, virtue, are the influx from thence.
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson - Generalization is always a new influx of the divinity into the mind.
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson - With every influx of light comes new danger.
— from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Ralph Waldo Emerson - He found that the sea was pouring into the fifth compartment; and the rapidity of the influx proved that the force of the water was considerable.
— from Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne