Past and future Quote by Aleister Crowley
““They made figures of brass, and tried to induce souls to indwell them. In some accounts we read that they succeeded; Friar Bacon was credited with one such Homunculus; so was Albertus Magnus, and, I think, Paracelsus. "He had, at least, a devil in his long sword 'which taught him all the cunning pranks of past and future mountebanks,””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Lies, Aleister Crowley, 1913
Historical attempts to animate in via alchemy, reflecting human desire to create life and control destiny.
In simple terms: People tried to make living statues, seeking power over life.
Key Takeaway
Question the limits of creation and ethical implications.
Themes
alchemy
creation
human ambition
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- artificial intelligence
- genetic engineering
Key Concepts
homunculus
medieval science
ethical boundaries
Questions to Reflect On
- Is creating life ever justified?
- What responsibilities follow creation?
A Different Perspective
Such pursuits can lead to unforeseen moral dilemmas.
![“What actually happened was something absurdly simple and unspectacular: I stopped thinking. [...] Reason and imagination and all mental chatter died down. For once, words really failed me. Past and future dropped away. I forgot who and what I was, my name, manhood, animalhood, all that could be…” quote by Douglas Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3cb/douglas-harding-37614_blue-sky_what-actually-happened-was-something-abs_102127.jpg)
