Checks and balances Quote by Robert Macfarlane
““Our disenchantment of the night through artificial lighting may appear, if it is noticed at all, as a regrettable but eventually trivial side effect of contemporary life. That winter hour, though, up on the summit ridge with the stars falling plainly far above, it seemed to me that our estrangement from the dark was a great and serious loss. We are, as a species, finding it increasingly hard to imagine that we are part of something which is larger than our own capacity. We have come to accept a heresy of aloofness, a humanist belief in human difference, and we suppress wherever possible the checks and balances on us - the reminders that the world is greater than us or that we are contained within it.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Darkening of the Light, 2020
Modern artificial lighting distances us from night, causing a loss of awe and humility toward the cosmos.
In simple terms: Artificial lights hide the night, reducing our sense of wonder.
Key Takeaway
Seek moments of darkness to reconnect with the larger universe.
Themes
nature
technology
humility
existence
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
essayistic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- camping under stars
- urban planning
- mindfulness practices
Key Concepts
environmental philosophy
cosmic perspective
anthropocentrism
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you miss if night were always bright?
- How can we balance safety with starlight appreciation?
A Different Perspective
It may romanticize darkness without addressing practical needs for safety.
![“I wanted a life full of intrigue and mystery, new environments, and new people...[a] temporary life with no fear of being trapped,” quote by Addy Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a39/addy-stevens-216345_adventure_i-wanted-a-life-full-of-intrigue-and-mys_311950.jpg)
