Skip to content

Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, for our own…

“Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty, lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are embarrassed by the miracle, and crushed by remonstrance.” quote by John Updike
Download Open image
“Let us not seek to make it less monstrous, for our own convenience, our own sense of beauty, lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour, we are embarrassed by the miracle, and crushed by remonstrance.”

John Updike

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We resist confronting the unsettling truth because we prefer comforting beauty, yet doing so can lead to shock when reality reveals itself.

In simple terms: Avoiding harsh truth for comfort can cause later shock.

Key Takeaway

Embrace truth, even if uncomfortable.

Themes

truth beauty comfort shock miracle

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • art criticism
  • ethical decision making
  • spiritual awakening

Key Concepts

existentialism aesthetic denial cognitive dissonance

Questions to Reflect On

  • What truths are you avoiding for comfort?
  • How does confronting discomfort change perception?
A Different Perspective

Ignoring reality may delay necessary growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by John Updike

Explore all 592 John Updike quotes

More Awakened quotes

Browse all 330 Awakened quotes