If one destroyed in museums and libraries, if one hurled…
““If one destroyed in museums and libraries, if one hurled down on the flagstones before the churches all the works and all the monuments of art that religions have inspired, what would remain of the great dreams of humanity? To give to men that portion of hope and illusion without which they cannot live, such is the reason for the existence of gods, heroes, and poets. During fifty years science appeared to undertake this task. But science has been compromised in hearts hungering after the ideal, because it does not dare to be lavish enough of promises, because it cannot lie””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Argues that art and myth sustain human hope and imagination, while science alone cannot fulfill this need.
In simple terms: Art gives hope and illusion; science lacks that.
Key Takeaway
Balance science with artistic inspiration.
Themes
hope
illusion
art
science
humanity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
cultural
When to use this quote
- education
- public policy
- cultural preservation
- creative industries
Key Concepts
mythmaking
cultural narrative
existential need
Questions to Reflect On
- Can society thrive without mythic narratives?
- How can art and science collaborate?
A Different Perspective
Science may be constrained by empirical limits.