Life is livable because we know that wherever we go most of the people we meet will be restrained in their actions towards us by an almost instinctive network of taboos.
Havelock EllisRead
The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the fragility of natural beauty and the destructive potential of human greed.
Havelock Ellis's quote highlights the idea that the beauty and majesty of celestial bodies are at risk from human exploitation. It suggests that if the sun, moon, and stars were tangible and within our grasp, they might have been destroyed by human greed and predation, emphasizing the need for reverence and preservation of the natural world.
Themes
NatureGreedBeautyProtectionPreservation
In practice
Example use cases
Mentioning this quote during a discussion about environmental conservation.
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