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About this quote

What does it mean?
Waugh notes that every religious or political promise of paradise is unlivable for civilized people.
In plain terms
Every promised paradise is uninhabitable for civilized people.
What can you take from it?
Ideal worlds are impractical.

Where it applies

  • philosophical critique
  • religious commentary
  • ideological analysis

Putting it to work

  • critique of utopia
  • philosophical reflection

Questions to consider

  • Is any paradise possible?
  • Does civilization prevent paradise?

Another view

It dismisses all ideological promises.

More from Evelyn Waugh

  1. In the dying world I come from quotation is a national vice. It used to be the classics, now it's lyric verse.

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  2. Manners are especially the need of the plain. The pretty can get away with anything.

    Permalink to quote #60
  3. If politicians and scientists were lazier, how much happier we should all be.

    Permalink to quote #57

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