Achievement Quote by Alain de Botton
“The pre-scientific age, whatever its deficiencies, had at least offered its members the peace of mind that follows from knowing all man-made achievements to be nothing next to the grandeur of the universe. We, more blessed in our gadgetry but less humble in our outlook, have been left... having no more compelling repository of veneration than our brilliant, precise, blinkered and morally troubling fellow human beings.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Architecture of Happiness, Alain de Botton, 2006
Modern technology expands capabilities but often erodes humility, leaving humanity with fewer sources of awe beyond the cosmos.
In simple terms: Tech makes us less humble.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate humility despite progress.
Themes
humility
technology
perspective
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- education
- public speaking
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
modernity
anthropocentrism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance advancement with reverence?
- What practices restore humility?
A Different Perspective
Awe of the universe can be replaced by materialism.
