By all means, then, let us have psalms and days of dedication anew to the old causes.

Reznikoff’s line calls for a renewal of collective moral energy: “psalms” suggests communal song, praise, or lament, while “days of dedication” evokes public ritual—set times when a community recommits itself. The phrase “anew to the old causes” frames the desired renewal not as novelty for its own sake but as a return to enduring commitments (justice, memory, responsibility) that may have grown stale or been neglected. The tone is both exhortative and sober: it acknowledges that causes can be “old” yet still require fresh attention, and that art (psalm-like speech) and civic practice (dedication days) can work together to sustain ethical life.