QuoteProject
Most men and women lead lives at the worst so painful, at the best so monotonous, poor and limited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and has always been one of the principal appetites of the soul.
Aldous Huxley
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the deep yearning of individuals to rise above their mundane existence and find moments of transcendence.

Aldous Huxley's quote explores the struggle of many individuals who face painful and monotonous lives. He suggests that this common experience gives rise to a profound longing to escape their reality and seek something greater, highlighting a fundamental aspect of the human soul's desire for transcendence and fulfillment beyond the limitations of everyday existence.

Themes

EscapeTranscendencePainMonotonySoul

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a motivational speech to inspire people to seek deeper meaning in their lives.

More from Aldous Huxley

To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous HuxleyRead
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
Aldous HuxleyRead
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.
Aldous HuxleyRead
On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
Aldous HuxleyRead
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.
Aldous HuxleyRead
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

Similar quotes

God made the water but men made the wine.
Victor HugoRead
No salvation without regeneration - no spiritual life without a new birth - no heaven without a new heart.
J. C. RyleRead
Thou madest man, he knows not why, he thinks he was not made to die.
Alfred Lord TennysonRead
DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another.
Ambrose BierceRead
Civility does not ...mean the mere outward gentleness of speech cultivated for the occasion, but an inborn gentleness and desire to do the opponent good.
Mahatma GandhiRead
The chief purpose of life, for any of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.
J. R. R. TolkienRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.