Capacity Quote by Terry Eagleton
“An enlightened trust in the sovereignty of human reason can be every bit as magical as the exploits of Merlin, and a faith in our capacity for limitless self-improvement just as much a wide-eyed superstition as a faith in leprechauns.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Politics of Aesthetics, 1990
Human reason can be as wondrous as myth, but believing in limitless self‑improvement is a superstition akin to believing in leprechauns.
In simple terms: Reason and belief in progress are both magical and naive.
Key Takeaway
Balance rational optimism with realistic expectations.
Themes
reason
optimism
myth
self‑improvement
Mood
hopeful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- personal development
- public policy
- science communication
Key Concepts
humanism
skepticism
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How does belief in reason shape societal goals?
- When does optimism become denial?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence may ignore practical limits.
![“Through it [Science] we believe that man will be saved from misery and degradation, not merely acquiring new material powers, but learning to use and to guide his life with understanding. Through Science he will be freed from the fetters of superstition; through faith in Science he will acquire a…” quote by Ray Lankester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df4/ray-lankester-97948_accounts_through-it-science-we-believe-that-man-w_1170117.jpg)
