If agricultural land be left uncultivated, in a few years…
“If agricultural land be left uncultivated, in a few years the jungle returns, and signs are not lacking that a similar danger is always lying in wait for the fields of thought, which, by the labour of three hundred years, have been cleared and brought into cultivation by men of science. The destruction of a very small percentage of the population would suffice to annihilate scientific knowledge, and lead us back to almost universal belief in magic, witchcraft and astrology.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Neglecting intellectual cultivation lets superstition replace science, and a tiny loss of people could erase centuries of knowledge.
In simple terms: Ignoring thought leads to superstition; loss of scholars erases knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Protect and nurture scientific inquiry.
Themes
knowledge
science
civilization
danger
Mood
concerned
urgent
reflective
Type
cautionary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education policy
- science funding
- public outreach
- preserving archives
- academic mentorship
Key Concepts
epistemology
cultural decay
intellectual heritage
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies safeguard knowledge against loss?
- What role does public trust play in protecting science?
A Different Perspective
Even with many scholars, societal forces can still suppress science.