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We want to get there faster. Get where? Wherever we are…

“We want to get there faster. Get where? Wherever we are not. But a human soul can only go as fast as a man can walk, they used to say. In that case, where are all the souls? Left behind. They wander here and there, slowly, dim lights flickering in the marshes at night, looking for us. But they're…” quote by Margaret Atwood
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“We want to get there faster. Get where? Wherever we are not. But a human soul can only go as fast as a man can walk, they used to say. In that case, where are all the souls? Left behind. They wander here and there, slowly, dim lights flickering in the marshes at night, looking for us. But they're not nearly fast enough, not for us, we're way ahead of them, they'll never catch up. That's why we can go so fast: our souls don't weigh us down.”

Margaret Atwood

About This Quote

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

Human souls are limited by physical constraints; progress outpaces spiritual growth, leaving many behind.

In simple terms: Progress outpaces souls.

Key Takeaway

Seek balance between speed and humanity.

Themes

progress spirituality human limits

Mood

thoughtful melancholic

Type

reflective philosophical

When to use this quote

  • urban planning
  • mental health
  • environmental policy
  • personal development

Key Concepts

philosophical existentialism technological critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we keep humanity in fast progress?
  • What practices nurture the soul?
A Different Perspective

Rapid change can cause alienation.

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