Air Quote by Peter Medawar
“We shall not read it for its sociological insights, which are non-existent, nor as science fiction, because it has a general air of implausibility; but there is one high poetic fancy in the New Atlantis that stays in the mind after all its fancies and inventions have been forgotten. In the New Atlantis, an island kingdom lying in very distant seas, the only commodity of external trade is light: Bacon's own special light, the light of understanding.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The New Atlantis” commentary, 1970s
The passage critiques reading a fictional work for sociological or scientific value, instead highlighting its poetic imagination about a society where light—symbolizing enlightenment—is the sole trade commodity.
In simple terms: Focus on poetic imagination rather than factual insight.
Key Takeaway
Value creative ideas over literal analysis.
Themes
literature
imagination
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- philosophical discussions
- artistic inspiration
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Utopian thought
symbolism
light as knowledge
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “light” represent in your life?
- How can poetic ideas inspire real change?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize ideas without practical applicability.
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