The true men of action in our time those who transform the world are not the politicians and statesmen but the scientists. Unfortunately poetry cannot celebrate them because their deeds are concerned with things, not persons, and are therefore speechless. When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a drawing room full of dukes.

Summary

This quote expresses the belief that scientists, rather than politicians or statesmen, are the ones who truly bring about transformative change in the world. The author argues that poetry cannot effectively celebrate scientists since their achievements pertain to objects rather than individuals, leaving their accomplishments unspoken. The comparison of the author's feelings among scientists to a shabby curate in a room full of dukes emphasizes the sense of awe and inferiority they experience in the presence of these influential individuals.

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