Quote by John Donne

Let me arrest thy thoughts; wonder with me, why plowing, building, ruling and the rest, or most of those arts, whence our lives are blest, by cursed Cain's race invented be, and blest Seth vexed us with Astronomy.

Let me arrest thy thoughts; wonder with me, why plowing, bui

Summary

This quote from the poem "The Garden" by Andrew Marvell questions the origins and purpose of various human endeavors. The speaker suggests that activities like farming, construction, and governance, which contribute to our well-being, were inventions of Cain's descendants. In contrast, the study of astronomy, associated with Seth, is mentioned as a source of frustration. The quote invites reflection on the paradoxical nature of human achievements and how they can simultaneously enhance and complicate our lives.

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