As for types like my own, obscurely motivated by the conviction that our existence was worthless if we didn't make a turning point of it, we were assigned to the humanities, to poetry, philosophy, painting -- the nursery games of humankind, which had to be left behind when the age of science began. The humanities would be called upon to choose a wallpaper for the crypt, as the end drew near.

Summary

This quote suggests that individuals who strongly believe their existence must serve a purpose are often drawn towards disciplines such as poetry, philosophy, and painting. These fields, seen as less practical compared to science, cater to the emotional and creative aspects of humanity. The quote also implies that, as society progressed into the age of science, these humanities disciplines may have been dismissed as insignificant and relegated to frivolous ornamentation as the end of life approached.

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