Billions Quote by Thomas Merton
“The primordial blessing, 'increase and multiply', has suddenly become a hemorrhage of terror. We are numbered in billions, and massed together, marshalled, numbered, marched here and there, taxed, drilled, armed, worked to the point of insensibility, dazed by information, drugged by entertainment, surfeited with everything, nauseated with the human race and with ourselves, nauseated with life.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Dark Night of the Soul, 1961
Human overpopulation and modern excess create existential terror and numbness.
In simple terms: Overpopulation leads to dread.
Key Takeaway
Address overconsumption and find meaning.
Themes
environment
existence
overpopulation
Mood
somber
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- mental health
- policy making
Key Concepts
philosophy
sociology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modern life numb you?
- What changes could reduce this terror?
A Different Perspective
Solutions are complex and contested.
