Fantasy Quote by Ralph C. Wood
““satirical against those who called him an escapist for creating the fantastic world of Middle-earth: "The notion that motor-cars are more 'alive' than, say, centaurs or dragons is curious; that they are more 'real' than, say, horses is pathetically absurd. How real, how startlingly alive is a factory chimney compared with an elm-tree: poor obsolete thing, insubstantial dream of an escapist!" (MC, 149).””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Myth of the Eternal Return, Ralph C. Wood, 1995
The quote critiques the idea that machines are more alive or real than mythic creatures, emphasizing the vitality of imagination over industrial objects.
In simple terms: Imagination is more alive than machines.
Key Takeaway
Value creative worlds over mechanical realism.
Themes
imagination
myth
technology
realism
creativity
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- teaching mythology
- creative writing
- environmental education
Key Concepts
existentialism
mythic symbolism
philosophy of art
Questions to Reflect On
- How does technology shape our sense of reality?
- Can industrial objects inspire mythic wonder?
A Different Perspective
Machines can serve functional purposes but lack the deeper symbolic life of mythic beings.
![“What makes Galadriel such a remarkable figure is her serenity amidst the coming defeat of her realm and her people. Far from resigning herself to any sort of fatalism, she desires only that the ought shall become the is: "Yet if you [Frodo] succeed, then our power is diminished, and Lothlorien…” quote by Ralph C. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5db/ralph-c-wood-49122_failure_what-makes-galadriel-such-a-remarkable-f_655524.jpg)
