I am optimistic when I consider the spiritual dimension which the scientist's discipline forces him to ignore.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that science often overlooks spiritual aspects of existence.
William Golding highlights a fundamental conflict between scientific inquiry and spiritual understanding. He expresses optimism by acknowledging that while scientists may disregard the spiritual dimensions of life, recognizing and embracing these aspects can enrich one's perspective and appreciation of the world. This calls for a balance between empirical knowledge and spiritual insight, suggesting that a holistic view may lead to a deeper understanding of reality.
In practice
In a speech about finding balance in life, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of integrating science with spirituality.
Consider a man riding a bicycle. Whoever he is, we can say three things about him. We know he got on the bicycle and started to move. We know that at some point he will stop and get off. Most important of all, we know that if at any point between the beginning and the end of his journey he stops moving and does not get off the bicycle he will fall off it. That is a metaphor for the journey through life of any living thing, and I think of any society of living things.
The skull regarded Ralph like one who knows all the answers and won't tell.
Maybe, he said hesitantly, maybe there is a beast. The assembly cried out savagely and Ralph stood up in amazement. You, Simon? You believe in this? I don't know, said Simon. His heartbeats were choking him. [...] Ralph shouted. Hear him! He's got the conch! What I mean is . . . maybe it's only us. Nuts! That was from Piggy, shocked out of decorum.
The mask was a thing on it's own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-conciousness.
Man produces evil as a bee produces honey.
Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state.
We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.
in stillness, I watched myselfget eaten by mosquitoes... the itch was maddening at first but eventually it just melded into a general burning feeling and i rode that heat to a mld euphoria. I allowed the pain to lose its specific associations and become pure sensation... and that eventually lifted me out of myself and into meditation.
Both dreams and myths are important communications from ourselves to ourselves. If we do not understand the language in which they are written, we miss a great deal of what we know and tell ourselves in those hours when we are not busy manipulating the outside world.
Wood feeds the fire which burns it.
The value of a man can only be measured with regard to other men.
It is almost as if the human brain were specifically designed to misunderstand Darwinism, and to find it hard to believe
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