Oh, that's typical of you modern young men; you've nibbled…
“Oh, that's typical of you modern young men; you've nibbled at science and it's made you ill, because you've not been able to satisfy that old craving for the absolute that you absorbed in your nurseries. You'd like science to give you all the answers at one go, whereas we're only just beginning to understand it, and it'll probably never be anything but an eternal quest. And so you repudiate science, you fall back on religion, and religion won't have you any more. Then you relapse into pessimism...Yes, it's the disease of our age, of the end of the century: you're all inverted Werthers.”
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 youth’s desire for absolute answers from science, their turn to religion when science disappoints, and resulting pessimism, labeling it a cultural disease of the era.
In simple terms: Young people want quick, absolute answers from science, get disappointed, turn to religion, then fall into pessimism.
Key Takeaway
Beware of seeking absolute certainty; embrace ongoing inquiry.
Themes
science
faith
modernity
disillusionment
existential crisis
Mood
critical
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
cultural commentary
literary criticism
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal belief crises
- public discourse on science and religion
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
epistemology
cultural critique
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance scientific humility with the human need for meaning?
- What role should religion play in a scientifically advancing society?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex societal trends and ignore individual agency.