Not only in peasant homes, but also in city skyscrapers…
“Not only in peasant homes, but also in city skyscrapers, there lives alongside the twentieth century, the thirteenth. A hundred million people use electricity and still believe in the magic powers of signs and exorcisms . . . movie stars to mediums. Aviators who pilot miraculous mechanisms created by man's genius wear amulets on their sweaters. What inexhaustible reserves they possess of darkness, ignorance and savagery!”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques modern society’s coexistence of technological progress with superstition and irrational beliefs, exposing a paradox of enlightenment and darkness.
In simple terms: Modern life mixes high tech with old superstitions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge irrational beliefs in advanced societies.
Themes
modernity
superstition
technology
irrationality
Mood
skeptical
critical
reflective
Type
sociopolitical
observational
When to use this quote
- urban life
- media consumption
- political discourse
Key Concepts
alienation
cognitive dissonance
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does technology fail to eradicate superstition?
- What drives people to cling to magical thinking?