Desire to achieve Quote by David Byrne
““It's a bit like sympathetic magic in a way: the usual Western presumption that 'primitive' rituals mimic what they desire to achieve--that phallic objects might be believed to increase male potency and playacting rainfall might somehow bring it about. I am suspicious of such obvious connections and I suspect that the connections among things, people, and processes can be equally irrational. I sense the world might be more dreamlike, metaphorical, and poetic than we currently believe--but just as irrational as sympathetic magic when looked at in a typically scientific way. I wouldn't be surprised if poetry--poetry in the broadest sense, in the sense of a world filled with metaphor, rhyme, and recurring patterns, shapes, and designs--is how the world works. The world isn't logical, it's a song.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Conversation with David Byrne, 2015
The quote suggests that reality may operate like poetry, with metaphorical, irrational connections rather than strict logic.
In simple terms: The world may work like poetry, not pure logic.
Key Takeaway
Embrace metaphor and pattern recognition.
Themes
creativity
perception
science
mythology
poetry
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
observational
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- scientific research
- personal reflection
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
metaphor
symbolism
irrationality
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize metaphor in everyday life?
- What role does irrationality play in scientific discovery?
A Different Perspective
Poetry may not capture all empirical truths.
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