Astronomy Quote by Malcolm Lowry
““To-night, as ages hence, people would say this, or shut their doors on them, turn in bereaved agony from them, or toward them with love saying: “That is our star up there, yours and mine”; steer by them above the clouds or lost at sea, or standing in the spray on the forecastle head, watch them, suddenly, careen; put their faith or lack of it in them; train, in a thousand observatories, feeble telescopes upon them, across whose lenses swam mysterious swarms of stars and clouds of dead dark stars, catastrophes of exploding suns, or giant Antares raging to its end—a smouldering ember yet five hundred times greater than the earth’s sun.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry, 1947
The passage poetically describes humanity's relationship with stars, mixing awe, fear, and existential wonder across scientific and emotional lenses.
In simple terms: Stars inspire both hope and dread, reflecting human hopes and fears.
Key Takeaway
Balance wonder with humility when contemplating the cosmos.
Themes
cosmos
humanity
hope
fear
science
existentialism
Mood
wonderful
melancholic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- stargazing
- scientific research
- spiritual contemplation
Key Concepts
astronomy
poetry
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions do stars evoke in you?
- How do scientific facts reshape poetic awe?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize cosmic events without addressing scientific uncertainty.
