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Sometimes I believe that this less material life is our truer life, and that our vain presence on the terraqueous globe is itself the secondary or merely virtual phenomenon.
H. P. Lovecraft
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that a less materialistic life is more authentic and that our existence on Earth may be less significant than it seems.

H. P. Lovecraft reflects on the nature of human existence, positing that a life focused less on material possessions is closer to our true selves. He implies that our physical presence on Earth, while often seen as central, may actually be secondary to a deeper, more meaningful existence that transcends the physical realm.

Themes

PhilosophyMaterialismExistenceTruthLife

In practice

Example use cases

During a lecture on minimalism, someone could use this quote to emphasize the importance of valuing experiences over possessions.

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I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality.
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