Distress Quote by Blaise Cendrars
“Science is history arranged according to the superstition and taste of the moment. The vocabulary of scholars has no wit, no salt. These heavy tomes have no soul, they are filled with distress...”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Taste of History, 1925
Scholarly works often lack wit and soul, becoming dry and distressing, reflecting the era’s superstition.
In simple terms: History written without wit feels empty.
Key Takeaway
Seek lively, critical scholarship.
Themes
scholarship
wit
history
culture
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- education
- public discourse
- media analysis
Key Concepts
literary criticism
philosophy
historical methodology
creativity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scholarship stay engaging?
- What role does wit play in learning?
A Different Perspective
May generalize across all scholarship.
