Summary
'd astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wandered off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Looked up in perfect silence at the stars. This quote, from Walt Whitman's poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," captures a moment of realization and the contrast between intellectual knowledge and personal experience. The speaker starts off engaged with the astronomer's teachings, with proofs and figures laid out before them. However, they soon become disinterested and overwhelmed by the analytical approach. Seeking solace from this intellectual fatigue, the speaker steps outside and experiences the beauty and wonder of the stars firsthand, finding a connection that cannot be measured or quantified. This quote reminds us of the value of direct experience and the limitations of knowledge obtained solely through analysis and observation.
Topics
Astronomy
