Burning Quote by Christopher Hitchens
“It is only those who hope to transform human beings who end up by burning them, like the waste product of a failed experiment.”
About This Quote
Those who attempt to radically change humanity risk causing harm, likened to a failed experiment’s waste.
In simple terms: Attempting radical change can backfire catastrophically.
Key Takeaway
Beware unintended consequences of grand experiments.
Themes
ethics
humanity
science
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- technological innovation
- social reform
Key Concepts
transformation
risk of hubris
Questions to Reflect On
- When is radical change justified?
- How can we mitigate harm in transformative projects?
A Different Perspective
The quote is pessimistic and lacks nuance.
![“It's [Los Angeles] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them aren't even young and beautiful now.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a86/christopher-hitchens-117_beautiful_it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense_10462.jpg)
![“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab6/christopher-hitchens-117_action_religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integ_23299.jpg)
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
