Awe Quote by Michael Persinger
“At the time Gothic cathedrals were designed, most people lived in dark huts, so just walking into a space vastly larger than what they were habituated to, lit by stained glass windows, was literally awe-inspiring. Today, we're not as impressed by big buildings, so we have to go to very large mountains to experience that 'diminutive effect.'”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Awe of Architecture, 2015
Huge, illuminated spaces once evoked awe because they contrasted sharply with everyday darkness; now we seek nature for similar impact.
In simple terms: Big, bright places once amazed us; now we need mountains.
Key Takeaway
Seek new scales for wonder.
Themes
awe
scale
environmental perception
Mood
wonderful
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
experiential
When to use this quote
- visiting cathedrals
- mountain hikes
- museum tours
- urban planning
Key Concepts
psychology of awe
architecture
nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How can design recreate awe?
- Do we need natural scale for inspiration?
A Different Perspective
Modern environments may desensitize us to grandeur.
![“Western cathedrals and abbeys…through soaring Gothic architecture, [give] us at floor level a sense of belonging within (but unable at the moment to inhabit more than a little of) great spaces of light and beauty, into which, significantly, only our music can penetrate.” quote by N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bd0/n-t-wright-1173_beauty_western-cathedrals-and-abbeys-through-so_263124.jpg)
