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What art was to the ancient world, Science is to the modern; the distinctive faculty. In the minds of men, the useful has succeeded to the beautiful.
Benjamin Disraeli
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the shift in value from art in the ancient world to science in modern times.

Benjamin Disraeli's quote reflects the changing priorities of human society from the appreciation of beauty, represented by art in ancient civilizations, to the value placed on utility and practicality as exemplified by science in contemporary times. It suggests that while ancient cultures prioritized artistic expression and the beautiful, modern thought has evolved to regard the useful functions of science and technology as paramount, thus redefining what is considered most valuable in human pursuits.

Themes

ArtScienceBeautyUtilityModernAncient

In practice

Example use cases

During a lecture on the evolution of human thought, this quote can be used to illustrate the transition from artistic societies to technologically driven ones.

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