Quote by H.P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.


The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inabil

Summary

This quote by H.P. Lovecraft reflects on the capacity of the human mind and the potential dangers of acquiring and integrating vast amounts of knowledge. Lovecraft suggests that our ignorance about the true nature of reality acts as a merciful barrier, protecting us from the overwhelming horrors that would be revealed if we could fully comprehend the extent of knowledge. The quote also alludes to the potential consequences of unlocking this knowledge - the revelation may drive us to madness or force us to retreat and seek refuge in ignorance, ushering in a new era of darkness.

Topics

Mind
By H.P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft
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