Fear Quote by Richard Preston
““Nine out of ten humans killed? And you're not bothered." A look of mysterious thoughtfulness crossed his face. "A virus can be useful to a species by thinning it out," he said. A scream cut the air. It sounded nonhuman. He took his eyes off the water and looked around. "Hear that pheasant? That's what I like about the Bighorn River," he said. "Do you find viruses beautiful?" "Oh, yeah," he said softly. "Isn't it true that if you stare into the eyes of a cobra, the fear has another side to it? The fear is lessened as you begin to see the essence of the beauty. Looking at Ebola under an electron microscope is like looking at a gorgeously wrought ice castle. The thing is so cold. So totally pure." He laid a perfect cast on the water, and eddies took the fly down. (92)””
About This Quote
The speaker admires the aesthetic and functional aspects of viruses, seeing them as natural forces that shape and refine species through selective pressure.
In simple terms: Viruses as elegant, purifying forces.
Key Takeaway
Beauty in biological destruction.
Themes
Nature's duality
Beauty in decay
Evolutionary pressure
Scientific awe
Moral ambiguity
Mood
Contemplative
Eerie
Type
Philosophical
Descriptive
When to use this quote
- Philosophical debate on disease
- Scientific observation of pathogens
- Narrative describing a wilderness setting
Key Concepts
Virus as a selective agent
Perception of fear
Microbial aesthetics
Practical Applications
- Exploring ethical implications of pathogen research
- Using metaphor to teach evolutionary concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can something destructive be considered beautiful?
- How does framing disease as art affect our response to it?
