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About this quote

What does it mean?
Understanding the limits of human life makes most sciences seem trivial.
In plain terms
Knowing how life ends makes other knowledge seem useless.
What can you take from it?
Consider mortality when evaluating human knowledge.

Where it applies

  • existential reflection
  • education
  • scientific pursuit

Putting it to work

  • focus on essential knowledge
  • align science with human limits
  • reflect on mortality

Questions to consider

  • What is the limit of science?
  • How does mortality change knowledge?

Another view

It undermines the value of scientific progress for quality of life.

More from Napoleon Bonaparte

  1. We walk faster when we walk alone.

    Permalink to quote #201
  2. You must not fear death, my lads; defy him, and you drive him into the enemy's ranks.

    Permalink to quote #203
  3. We must take things as we find them, and not as we wish them to be.

    Permalink to quote #200

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