If our shallow, self-critical culture sometimes seems to…
““If our shallow, self-critical culture sometimes seems to lack a sense of the numinous or spiritual it’s only in the same way a fish lacks a sense of the ocean. Because the numinous is everywhere, we need to be reminded of it. We live among wonders. Superhuman cyborgs, we plug into cell phones connecting us to one another and to a constantly updated planetary database, an exo-memory that allows us to fit our complete cultural archive into a jacket pocket. We have camera eyes that speed up, slow down, and even reverse the flow of time, allowing us to see what no one prior to the twentieth century had ever seen — the thermodynamic miracle of broken shards and a puddle gathering themselves up from the floor to assemble a half-full wineglass. We are the hands and eyes and ears, the sensitive probing feelers through which the emergent, intelligent universe comes to know its own form and purpose. We bring the thunderbolt of meaning and significance to unconscious matter, blank paper, the night sky. We are already divine magicians, already supergods. Why shouldn’t we use all our brilliance to leap in as many single bounds as it takes to a world beyond ours, threatened by overpopulation, mass species extinction, environmental degradation, hunger, and exploitation? Superman and his pals would figure a way out of any stupid cul-de-sac we could find ourselves in — and we made Superman, after all.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human creativity and technology reveal the sacred in everyday life, urging us to use our newfound powers to solve global crises.
In simple terms: We can see wonder everywhere and must act with our brilliance to fix big problems.
Channel curiosity and tech to address humanity’s biggest challenges.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- climate activism
- tech innovation
- artistic expression
- education reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities come with our technological gifts?
- How can we keep wonder alive while solving crises?
Overreliance on technology may overlook simple, low‑tech solutions.