To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous HuxleyRead
Industrial man—a sentient reciprocating engine having a fluctuating output, coupled to an iron wheel revolving with uniform velocity. And then we wonder why this should be the golden age of revolution and mental derangement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Huxley critiques the mechanization of human life, suggesting that it leads to confusion and unrest.
In this quote, Aldous Huxley uses vivid imagery to describe industrial man as a mechanical entity, emphasizing humanity's entrapment in industrialization and its associated mental struggles. He questions the resulting chaos and mental instability in a society that values efficiency and mechanization over individuality and emotional well-being, which he perceives as a contradiction in an era that should be characterized by enlightenment and freedom.
Themes
IndustrializationHumanityMental HealthMechanizationSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the impact of technology on society, one might quote Huxley to emphasize the mental challenges of modern living.
More from Aldous Huxley
All quotes →Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
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In the course of history many more people have died for their drink and their dope than have died for their religion or their country.
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On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
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No man ever dared to manifest his boredom so insolently as does a Siamese tomcat when he yawns in the face of his amorously importunate wife.
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The leech's kiss, the squid's embrace, The prurient ape's defiling touch: And do you like the human race? No, not much.
Aldous HuxleyRead
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