---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the 18th century we knew how…"
description: "\"In the 18th century we knew how everything was done, but here I rise through the air, I listen to voices in America, I see men flying- but how is it do..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/virginia-woolf-49_18th-century_in-the-18th-century-we-knew-how-everythi_3108342.jpg"
---

#  In the 18th century we knew how everything was done, but…

![“In the 18th century we knew how everything was done, but here I rise through the air, I listen to voices in America, I see men flying- but how is it done? I can't even begin to wonder. So my belief in magic returns.” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/virginia-woolf-49_18th-century_in-the-18th-century-we-knew-how-everythi_3108342.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/virginia-woolf-49_18th-century_in-the-18th-century-we-knew-how-everythi_3108342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/virginia-woolf-49_18th-century_in-the-18th-century-we-knew-how-everythi_3108342.jpg)

> “In the 18th century we knew how everything was done, but here I rise through the air, I listen to voices in America, I see men flying- but how is it done? I can't even begin to wonder. So my belief in magic returns.”

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator marvels at modern technological marvels, feeling awe and bewilderment at new possibilities.

**In simple terms:** Amazed by modern tech and its mystery.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity about progress.

Themes

wonder technology modernity

Mood

curious reflective

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- travel
- aeronautics
- media consumption
- cultural observation

Key Concepts

progress magic perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How does wonder shape our acceptance of change?
- What fears arise from unfamiliar tech?

A Different Perspective

The quote reflects personal awe, not a systematic analysis of technology.

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[18th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18th-century/) [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-magic-766280/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Flying Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying-begin-392072/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Magic Returns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-returns-5419174/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/)

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