Antiquity Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“All inquiry into antiquity, all curiosity respecting the Pyramids, the excavated cities, Stonehenge, the Ohio Circles, Mexico, Memphis,--is the desire to do away this wild, savage, and preposterous There and Then, and introduce in its place the Here and Now.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Nature" (1836) by Ralph Waldo Emerson
A desire to replace ancient mysteries with modern, rational understanding.
In simple terms: Replace old myths with present reality.
Key Takeaway
Embrace critical inquiry over myth.
Themes
history
curiosity
modernism
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- museum tours
- academic research
- heritage preservation
- public education
Key Concepts
archaeology
skepticism
cultural evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- What ancient story still informs your worldview?
- How can we balance respect for heritage with progress?
A Different Perspective
Modern perspectives may overlook the value of mythic narratives.
![“George Smiley: [quoting an old letter from Bill Haydon about Jim Prideaux] He has that heavy quiet that commands. He's my other half. Between us we'd make one marvelous man. He asks nothing better than to be in my company or that of my wicked, divine friends, and I'm vastly tickled by the…” quote by John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d52/john-le-carre-651_bills_george-smiley-quoting-an-old-letter-from_1812849.jpg)
![“There [is] a feeling of recognition, as of meeting an old friend, which comes to us all in the face of great artistic experiences. I had the same experience when I first heard an English folksong, when I first saw Michelangelo's Day and Night, when I suddenly came upon Stonehenge or had my first…” quote by Ralph Vaughan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b3/ralph-vaughan-williams-24520_artistic_there-is-a-feeling-of-recognition-as-of_1532348.jpg)
