God Quote by Robert Farrar Capon
““O the sad frugality of the middle-income mind. O the humorless neatness of an intellectuality which buys mass-produced candlesticks and carefully puts one at each end of every philosophical mantlepiece! How far it lies from the playfulness of Him who composed such odd and needless variations on the themes of leaf and backbone, eye and nose! A thousand praises that it has only lately managed to lay its cold hand on the wines, the sauces, and the cheeses of the world! A hymn of thanksgiving that it could not reach into the depths of the sea to clamp its grim simplicities over the creatures that swim luminously in the dark! A shout of rejoicing for the fish who wears his eyeballs at the ends of long stalks, and for the jubilant laughter of the God who holds him in life with a daily bravo at the bravura of his being!””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Joy of the Middle‑Income Mind, Robert Farrar Capon, 1992
He satirizes the bland, material‑focused mindset of the middle class, contrasting it with the wild creativity of nature.
In simple terms: Middle‑class conformity stifles imagination.
Key Takeaway
Embrace spontaneity over rigid practicality.
Themes
conformity
materialism
creativity
nature
Mood
wry
humorous
Type
satirical
poetic
When to use this quote
- consumerism
- artistic expression
- personal freedom
Key Concepts
satire
philosophy
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What balances creativity with practical needs?
- How can one retain wonder in daily life?
A Different Perspective
The critique may overlook the benefits of order and stability.
