What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
I don't know if there are men on the moon, but if there are they must be using the earth as their lunatic asylum
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that humanity is irrational and disconnected, implying that if there were extraterrestrial beings, they would view Earth as a chaotic place.
George Bernard Shaw's quote expresses a deep-seated skepticism about human nature and our irrational behaviors. By comparing Earth to a 'lunatic asylum,' he highlights the absurdities and irrationalities of mankind, suggesting that if there were intelligent beings on the moon, they might see our species as wildly unpredictable and troubled. This perspective encourages reflection on the uniqueness of human behavior and our place in the universe.
Themes
EarthMoonLunaticAsylumHumanityIrrationality
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture about human psychology and behavior, one might use this quote to illustrate the irrational aspects of human nature.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes βMarriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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