Is there such a thing?' Birle asked. He looked…
““Is there such a thing?' Birle asked. He looked thoughtfully at her, but not as if he saw her. 'Men have dreamed of it, although none has ever held it in his hand, not to my knowledge. I cannot say that there is such a thing, no. But equally I cannot say there is not. Why should a man be able to dream of it if it cannot be? If it is so impossible, then what put's it into a man's mind? Greed puts many things into men's mind, and fear does too. But men dream of other things, as well-- of justice, of the lost golden age, of an order to their world... of medicine to cure all sickness...””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage explores the tension between dreaming of impossible ideals and the human drive to imagine possibilities, acknowledging both fear and greed as motivators.
In simple terms: People dream of impossible things, driven by fear and greed.
Key Takeaway
Balance imagination with realistic goals.
Themes
dreams
philosophy
human nature
fear
greed
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
literary
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- philosophical debates
- innovation sessions
Key Concepts
existentialism
idealism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What impossible ideas motivate you?
- How do fear and greed shape your aspirations?
A Different Perspective
Dreams can inspire but also mislead without grounding.