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Aim Quote by John Fowles

“The supposed great misery of our century is the lack of time; our sense of that, not a disinterested love of science, and certainly not wisdom, is why we devote such a huge proportion of the ingenuity and income of our societies to finding faster ways of doing things - as if the final aim of…” quote by John Fowles
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“The supposed great misery of our century is the lack of time; our sense of that, not a disinterested love of science, and certainly not wisdom, is why we devote such a huge proportion of the ingenuity and income of our societies to finding faster ways of doing things - as if the final aim of mankind was to grow closer not to a perfect humanity, but to a perfect lightning-flash.”

John Fowles

About This Quote

The quote laments modern society’s obsession with speed, arguing that it distracts from deeper appreciation of science and wisdom.

In simple terms: Speed obsession distracts from deeper values.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize depth over speed.

Themes

technology society philosophy

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • workplace productivity
  • education reform
  • personal time management
  • policy making

Key Concepts

time perception cultural critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “speed” cost you personally?
  • How can you balance efficiency with depth?
A Different Perspective

Speed can be necessary for emergencies and innovation.

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