First time Quote by H.G. Wells
““Or did a Martian sit within each, ruling, directing, using, much as a man's brain sits and rules in his body? I began to compare the things to human machines, to ask myself for the first time in my life how an ironclad or a steam engine would seem to an intelligent lower animal.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, 1898
The passage likens alien control to human thought, comparing the mind to a machine governed by an external ruler.
In simple terms: The mind can be seen as a machine controlled by an external force.
Key Takeaway
Consider the influence of external forces on thought.
Themes
philosophy
science
control
Mood
inquisitive
speculative
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- psychology
- AI development
- education
Key Concepts
mind-body dualism
determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- How much of our thinking is externally directed?
- Can we truly control our own minds?
A Different Perspective
The analogy may oversimplify complex consciousness.
![“The thing [Henry James'] novel is about is always there. It is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently placed, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19f/h-g-wells-2-1299_books_the-thing-henry-james-novel-is-about-is_138893.jpg)
