If our sides were unequal our angles might be unequal…
““If our sides were unequal our angles might be unequal. Instead of its being sufficient to feel, or estimate by sight, a single angle in order to determine the form of an individual, it would be necessary to ascertain each angle by the experiment of Feeling. But life would be too short for such a tedious groping. The whole science and art of Sight Recognition would at once perish; Feeling, so far as it is an art, would not long survive; intercourse would become perilous or impossible; there would be an end to all confidence, all forethought; no one would be safe in making the most simple social arrangements; in a word, civilization would relapse into barbarism.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
If every aspect of a person required precise measurement, life would become impossible and civilization would revert to barbarism.
In simple terms: Over‑analysis would cripple society.
Key Takeaway
Balance intuition with analysis.
Themes
knowledge
society
philosophy
Mood
analytical
philosophical
Type
statement
observation
When to use this quote
- social interaction
- decision making
- personal relationships
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
epistemology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Can all human experience be quantified?
- What role does intuition play in society?
A Different Perspective
Precise measurement is impractical; intuition remains essential.