--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine that human existence is defined…" description: "\"“Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of our desires forever outnumbe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/jonathan-franzen-801_art_imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined_156385.jpg" --- # Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the… ![“Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of our desires forever outnumbering our means of satisfying them. If we see religion and art as the historically preferred methods of coming to terms with this Ache, then what…” quote by Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/jonathan-franzen-801_art_imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined_156385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/jonathan-franzen-801_art_imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined_156385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/jonathan-franzen-801_art_imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined_156385.jpg) > ““Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of our desires forever outnumbering our means of satisfying them. If we see religion and art as the historically preferred methods of coming to terms with this Ache, then what happens to art when our technological and economic systems and even our commercialized religions become sufficiently sophisticated to make each of us the center of our own universe of choices and gratifications?”” [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human desire creates an ache of lacking centrality; art and religion historically soothe it, but tech and commerce now let individuals become their own centers, challenging art's role. **In simple terms:** Human longing for centrality drives art and religion, now tech lets us be our own centers, questioning art's purpose. Key Takeaway Recognize how technology reshapes meaning‑making. Themes existence desire art religion technology economics self‑centrality Mood analytical critical Type philosophical cultural When to use this quote - digital media consumption - personalized content creation - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy cultural studies media theory Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑centrality affect collective art? - What new roles can art play in a tech‑driven world? A Different Perspective May overlook community impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Center of the universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-of-the-universe/) [Economic system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-system/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined-by-an-ache-the-ache-of-our-2/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [We are dwellers in a divine universe where no desires are in vain - if only they be large enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/we-are-dwellers-in-a-divine-universe-where-no-desires-are-in-vain-if/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Letting go of control is a transformative practice that invites serendipity and unexpected marvels into our lives. 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Economics and art are strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/religion-and-art-spring-from-the-same-root-and-are-close-kin/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Religion without art is a dead system of dogmas which have no effect on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/religion-without-art-is-a-dead-system-of-dogmas-which-have-no-effect/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [Tea...is a religion of the art of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tea-is-a-religion-of-the-art-of-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I found it amazing people can think that art must be connected to religion. 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In fact, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-similarity-between-what-people-try-to-do/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I would no more quarrel with a man because of his religion than I would because of his art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/i-would-no-more-quarrel-with-a-man-because-of-his-religion-than-i/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) ## More by Jonathan Franzen > [“The fundamental fact about all of us is that we’re alive for a while but will die before long. 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They're pure hyena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/integrity-s-a-neutral-value-hyenas-have-integrity-too-they-re-pure/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“An odd thing about beauty, however, is that it's absence tends not to arouse our sympathy as much as other forms of privation do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/an-odd-thing-about-beauty-however-is-that-it-s-absence-tends-not-to/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [He became another data point in the American experiment of self-government, an experiment statistically skewed from the outset, because it wasn't the people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/he-became-another-data-point-in-the-american-experiment-of-self/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“It was this motley band of modest peeps and plovers on the beach who reminded me of the human beings I loved best -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/it-was-this-motley-band-of-modest-peeps-and-plovers-on-the-beach-who/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“Alfred believed that the real and the true were a minority that the world was bent on exterminating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/alfred-believed-that-the-real-and-the-true-were-a-minority-that-the/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [The problem was money and the indignities of life without it. 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