I am sorry the infernal Divinities, who visit mankind with…
“I am sorry the infernal Divinities, who visit mankind with diseases, and are therefore at perpetual war with Doctors, should have prevented my seeing all you great Men at Soho to-day-Lord! what inventions, what wit, what rhetoric, metaphysical, mechanical and pyrotecnical, will be on the wing, bandy'd like a shuttlecock from one to another of your troop of philosophers! while poor I, I by myself I, imprizon'd in a post chaise, am joggled, and jostled, and bump'd, and bruised along the King's high road, to make war upon a pox or a fever!”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author laments that disease and war prevent him from joining great minds, yet he celebrates human ingenuity and the chaotic fight against illness.
In simple terms: He feels blocked by illness but admires human creativity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity despite setbacks.
Themes
science
philosophy
human struggle
creativity
Mood
frustrated
hopeful
Type
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- medical research
- philosophical debates
- travel hardships
- public health crises
Key Concepts
epidemiology
mechanics
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance the pursuit of knowledge with compassion?
- What role does humor play in confronting disease?
A Different Perspective
The quote romanticizes conflict, ignoring the suffering it causes.