Black hole Quote by Paulette Jiles
““The world was in truth made of jackstraws. The world was very combustible, the human body was partible in ways heretofore unimagined. What held the civilized world together was the thinnest tissue of nothing but human will. Civilization was not in the natural order but was some wort of willed invention held taut like a fabric or a sail against the chaos of the winds. And why we had invented it, or how we knew to invent it, was beyond him. Newmann had seen some truth that was completely out of his power to put into words. But he had come away knowing that even though the world of civilization was made of straw and lantern slides, he must live in it as if it were solid. Even when the heat of the lantern itself burnt away the illusions and a black hole appeared in the middle of the slide.””
About This Quote
Civilization is a fragile construct held together by collective will, likened to straw and lantern slides, yet we must act as if it were solid despite its inherent instability.
In simple terms: Society is fragile but we must treat it as solid.
Key Takeaway
Treat fragile systems as stable to function.
Themes
fragility
will
civilization
Mood
cautious
philosophical
Type
observation
reflection
When to use this quote
- political organization
- urban planning
- environmental policy
Key Concepts
collective belief
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What structures do you rely on that may be illusory?
- How can we strengthen the “will” that holds society together?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on illusion can lead to collapse when reality confronts.
