They knew how to live with nature and get along with…
““They knew how to live with nature and get along with nature. They didn't try too hard to be all men and no animal. That's the mistake we made when Darwin showed up. We embraced him and Huxley and Freud, all smiles. And then we discovered that Darwin and our religions didn't mix. Or at least we didn't think they did. We were fools. We tried to budge Darwin and Huxley and Freud. They wouldn't move very well. So, like idiots, we tried knocking down religion. We succeeded pretty well. We lost our faith and went around wondering what life was for. If art was no more than a frustrated outflinging of desire, if religion was no more than self-delusion, what good was life? Faith had always given us answer to all things. But it all went down the drain with Freud and Darwin. We were and still are lost people.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Critiques the clash between scientific rationalism and religious belief, suggesting loss of meaning without faith.
In simple terms: Science and religion conflict, leaving emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between reason and belief.
Themes
meaning
existence
faith
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- cultural debate
- education curriculum
Key Concepts
philosophy
science
religion
Questions to Reflect On
- Can faith and science coexist peacefully?
- What gives life purpose beyond religion?
A Different Perspective
Science alone may not fulfill existential needs.