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I collected the instruments of life around me, that I…

“I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light…” quote by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
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“I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.”

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

About This Quote

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

A creator seeks to animate lifeless matter, confronting the fragile boundary between life and death.

In simple terms: Creating life from death is fraught with uncertainty.

Key Takeaway

Respect the limits of creation.

Themes

creation responsibility life death science

Mood

somber reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • laboratory experiments
  • artificial intelligence development
  • medical resuscitation
  • environmental restoration

Key Concepts

animation ethical dilemmas human ambition

Questions to Reflect On

  • What responsibilities arise when we give life?
  • Can we control what we create?
A Different Perspective

The act may cause suffering for both creator and creation.

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