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Celebrate Quote by Aldous Huxley

“[...] Technology has tended to devaluate the traditional vision-inducing materials. The illumination of a city, for example, was once a rare event, reserved for victories and national holidays, for the canonization of saints and the crowning of kings. Now it occurs nightly and celebrates the…” quote by Aldous Huxley
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“[...] Technology has tended to devaluate the traditional vision-inducing materials. The illumination of a city, for example, was once a rare event, reserved for victories and national holidays, for the canonization of saints and the crowning of kings. Now it occurs nightly and celebrates the virtues of gin, cigarettes and toothpaste.”

Aldous Huxley

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Perennial Philosophy, 1945 (or similar)

The passage laments how modern technology has turned once sacred, rare illuminations into commonplace celebrations of trivial consumer goods.

In simple terms: Technology cheapens once sacred spectacles.

Key Takeaway

Value meaningful symbols over consumer hype.

Themes

technology consumerism culture celebration loss of sacred

Mood

critical reflective analytical

Type

cultural sociological

When to use this quote

  • urban planning
  • advertising
  • public festivals
  • media studies

Key Concepts

Materialism secularization media influence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does technology change cultural meaning?
  • What can we reclaim as sacred?
A Different Perspective

It may overgeneralize historical lighting practices.

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