--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were no formerly heroic times, and…" description: "\"“There were no formerly heroic times, and there was no formerly pure generation. There is no one here but us chickens, and so it has always been: A peo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg" --- # There were no formerly heroic times, and there was no… ![“There were no formerly heroic times, and there was no formerly pure generation. There is no one here but us chickens, and so it has always been: A people busy and powerful, knowledgeable, ambivalent, important, fearful, and self-aware; a people who scheme, promote, deceive, and conquer; who pray…” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg) > ““There were no formerly heroic times, and there was no formerly pure generation. There is no one here but us chickens, and so it has always been: A people busy and powerful, knowledgeable, ambivalent, important, fearful, and self-aware; a people who scheme, promote, deceive, and conquer; who pray for their loved ones, and long to flee misery and skip death. It is a weakening and discoloring idea, that rustic people knew God personally once upon a time-- or even knew selflessness or courage or literature-- but that it is too late for us. In fact, the absolute is available to everyone in every age. There never was a more holy age than ours, and never a less.”” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human history is a mix of knowledge, power, fear, and self‑awareness; the notion of a pure, heroic past is a myth, yet each age holds its own sacredness **In simple terms:** History is messy and flawed, but every era is valuable Key Takeaway Appreciate the complexity of our time Themes history human nature paradox Mood contemplative hopeful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - education - social commentary - personal reflection - ethical debate Key Concepts existentialism cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to live fully in our imperfect age? - How can we find meaning amid historical contradictions? A Different Perspective Romanticizing past purity can blind us to present possibilities ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Loved ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-ones/) [Selflessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selflessness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [“It is a weakening and discoloring idea that rustic people knew God personally once upon a time but that it is too late for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-a-weakening-and-discoloring-idea-that-rustic-people-knew-god/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Your determination, selflessness and courage have brought the freedom struggle towards its fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/your-determination-selflessness-and-courage-have-brought-the-freedom-2/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [“O happy age, which our first parents called the age of gold! Not because of gold, so much adored in this iron age, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cervantes/o-happy-age-which-our-first-parents-called-the-age-of-gold-not/) [Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cervantes/) > [Your determination, selflessness and courage have brought the freedom struggle towards its fulfilment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/your-determination-selflessness-and-courage-have-brought-the-freedom/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [“When people are to busy to survive they forget to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-attia/when-people-are-to-busy-to-survive-they-forget-to-live/) [Stephan Attia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-attia/) > [“We live in a world where people are always busy but produce little or no results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/we-live-in-a-world-where-people-are-always-busy-but-produce-little-or/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Life is very simple. people are busy in making it complicated!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/life-is-very-simple-people-are-busy-in-making-it-complicated/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Some people are so busy learning the tricks of the trade that they never learn the trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-are-so-busy-learning-the-tricks-of-the-trade-that-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being busy and being productive are not necessarily the same. Many people keep busy to avoid taking action on things they're afraid to pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-mackler/being-busy-and-being-productive-are-not-necessarily-the-same-many/) [Lauren Mackler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-mackler/) > [Grown-up people seem to be busy by clockwork... They run their unswerving course from object to object, directed by some mysterious inner needle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/grown-up-people-seem-to-be-busy-by-clockwork-they-run-their/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [People are not busy always they make themselves busy! Some people chooses the lightest part of life by spending time for their friends:)Like me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhargavi/people-are-not-busy-always-they-make-themselves-busy-some-people/) [Bhargavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhargavi/) > [Nowadays people are busy in seeking and talking about people who hate them, not about those who love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akash-rajoriya/nowadays-people-are-busy-in-seeking-and-talking-about-people-who-hate/) [Akash Rajoriya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akash-rajoriya/) > [Ministers are tempted to join the ranks of those who consider it their primary task to keep other people busy … But our task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/ministers-are-tempted-to-join-the-ranks-of-those-who-consider-it/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“People are always busy in trying to manipulate and dominate others!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-aziz/people-are-always-busy-in-trying-to-manipulate-and-dominate-others/) [Salman Aziz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-aziz/) > [“Opportunity knocks but some people are too busy watching TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/opportunity-knocks-but-some-people-are-too-busy-watching-tv/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There were no formerly heroic times, and there was no formerly pure generation. There is no one here but us chickens, and so it has always been: A people busy and powerful, knowledgeable, ambivalent, important, fearful, and self-aware; a people who scheme, promote, deceive, and conquer; who pray for their loved ones, and long to flee misery and skip death. It is a weakening and discoloring idea, that rustic people knew God personally once upon a time-- or even knew selflessness or courage or literature-- but that it is too late for us. In fact, the absolute is available to everyone in every age. There never was a more holy age than ours, and never a less.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Annie Dillard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and-there-was-no-formerly-pure-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and-there-was-no-formerly-pure-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/annie-dillard-509_death_there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and_2499805.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There were no formerly heroic times, and there was no formerly pure generation. There is no one here but us…” — Annie Dillard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Annie Dillard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There were no formerly heroic times,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and-there-was-no-formerly-pure-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/there-were-no-formerly-heroic-times-and-there-was-no-formerly-pure-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```