A sad spectacle. If they be inhabited, what a scope for misery and folly. It they be not inhabited, what a waste of space.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The universe seems either full of suffering or empty, offering no hopeful middle ground.
- In plain terms
- The stars look either miserable or useless.
- What can you take from it?
- Contemplate the value of existence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is the value of space?
- Does existence need meaning?
Another view
This view ignores potential unknown purposes in space.
More from Thomas Carlyle
A person usually has two reasons for doing something: a good reason and the real reason.
Permalink to quote #96 Lord Bacon could as easily have created this planet as he could have written Hamlet.
Permalink to quote #98 Captains of Industry.
Permalink to quote #95
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