Farewell, eyes that I loved! Do not blame me if the human…
““Farewell, eyes that I loved! Do not blame me if the human body cannot go three days without water. I should never have believed that man was so truly the prisoner of the springs and freshets. I had no notion that our self-sufficiency was so circumscribed. We take it for granted that a man is able to stride straight out into the world. We believe that man is free. We never see the cord that binds him to wells and fountains, that umbilical cord by which he is tied to the womb of the world. Let man take but one step too many... and the cord snaps. Apart from your suffering, I have no regrets. All in all, it has been a good life. If I got free of this I should start right in again. A man cannot live a decent life in cities, and I need to feel myself live. I am not thinking of aviation. The airplane is a means, not an end. One doesn't risk one's life for a plane any more than a farmer ploughs for the sake of the plough. But the airplane is a means of getting away from towns and their bookkeeping and coming to grips with reality.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human freedom is illusionary; we are bound by basic needs and societal structures, yet we seek escape through technology, which is merely a tool, not a solution.
In simple terms: Freedom is limited by needs and society.
Key Takeaway
Recognize constraints and seek true purpose.
Themes
freedom
human condition
technology
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
essay
reflective
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- survival training
- technology ethics
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
dependency
illusion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true freedom mean to you?
- How can we balance progress with basic human needs?
A Different Perspective
Technology cannot replace fundamental human needs.