Age Quote by Saul Bellow
“As for types like my own, obscurely motivated by the conviction that our existence was worthless if we didn't make a turning point of it, we were assigned to the humanities, to poetry, philosophy, painting -- the nursery games of humankind, which had to be left behind when the age of science began. The humanities would be called upon to choose a wallpaper for the crypt, as the end drew near.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Humboldt's Gift by Saul Bellow, 1975
The speaker sees humanities as a refuge for those who feel life is meaningless, assigning them to arts that become irrelevant as science dominates, yet they must still provide meaning at life's end.
In simple terms: Humanities are a last refuge for meaning when science prevails.
Key Takeaway
Find purpose in creative work despite societal shifts.
Themes
meaning
art
science
existentialism
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal crisis
- career change
- artistic pursuit
Key Concepts
humanism
nihilism
cultural transition
Questions to Reflect On
- How can humanities and science collaborate to enrich meaning?
- What personal “turning point” can you create?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the binary between humanities and science, ignoring interdisciplinary value.
