Atoms Quote by Daniel Quinn
“The mythology of your culture hums in your ears so constantly that no one pays the slightest bit of attention to it. Of course man is conquering space and the atom and the deserts and the oceans and the elements. According to your mythology, this is what he was BORN to do.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, 1992
Cultural myths shape our worldview, yet we ignore them while pursuing grand achievements.
In simple terms: Myths influence us unnoticed.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question underlying myths.
Themes
culture
myth
awareness
progress
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- education
- media analysis
- personal reflection
- policy making
Key Concepts
mythology
worldview
collective unconscious
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your cultural myths affect your goals?
- Can you identify a myth that hinders progress?
A Different Perspective
Myths can limit imagination and reinforce status quo.
![“[N]ow we have a clearer idea what this story is all about: The world was made for man, and man was made to rule it.” quote by Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/798/daniel-quinn-1786_civilization_n-ow-we-have-a-clearer-idea-what-this-st_60790.jpg)
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
