Can someone help explain these two quotes to me?
Who knows but if men constructed their dwellings with their own hands, and provided food for themselves and families simply and honestly enough, the poetic faculty would be universally developed, as birds universally sing when they are so engaged?
But unfortunately, we do like cowbirds and cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built, and cheer no traveller with their chattering and unmusical notes. Shall we forever resign the pleasure of construction to the carpenter?

I don't understand what he's trying to say :(

Question

Can someone help explain these two quotes to me?
Who knows but if men constructed their dwellings with their own hands, and provided food for themselves and families simply and honestly enough, the poetic faculty would be universally developed, as birds universally sing when they are so engaged? 
But unfortunately, we do like cowbirds and cuckoos, which lay their eggs in nests which other birds have built, and cheer no traveller with their chattering and unmusical notes. Shall we forever resign the pleasure of construction to the carpenter? 

I don't understand what he's trying to say :(

anonymous · Answer

My understanding of this quote is this: If humans were to build our buildings and schools and other such structures collectively, we would all know joy of poetic pursuits. Our understanding and ability to create poetic things would naturally develop, like a bird sings while it builds its home. However, like the cowbirds and cuckoos (who as far as I know do not sing and is implied in the quote do not), we let someone else build all of our structures and do not therefore have this inherent knowledge of poetic and beautiful things.  The act of construction is viewed here as an art that allows the mind to understanding all art, because to build requires an a certain understanding.

anonymous · Answer

Thank you :)