Our civilization is still in a middle stage: scarcely beast, in that it is no longer wholly ruled by instinct; scarcely human, in that it is not yet wholly ruled by reason.
Theodore Dreiser
Very much like Alexander Pope’s:
Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great:
Placed on this isthmus of a middle state,
A being darkly wise, and rudely great:
Or Terry Pratchett:
HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.
It seems like Terry Pratchett is explicitly contradicting Theodore Dreiser (IN ALL CAPS, no less).
Pratchett: “Humans need fantasy to be fully human.”
Dreiser: “Fantasy is an atavism, humans need reason to be fully human.”
Though it’s possible that Dreiser was reflecting on cognitive bias, not on fantasy.
The ALL CAPS are because it’s the character Death who is speaking here, in a voice like two concrete blocks being rubbed together, or the slamming of coffin lids.
That’s what I figured, but it still looks weird without context.
Theodore Dreiser
Very much like Alexander Pope’s:
Or Terry Pratchett:
It seems like Terry Pratchett is explicitly contradicting Theodore Dreiser (IN ALL CAPS, no less).
Pratchett: “Humans need fantasy to be fully human.”
Dreiser: “Fantasy is an atavism, humans need reason to be fully human.”
Though it’s possible that Dreiser was reflecting on cognitive bias, not on fantasy.
The ALL CAPS are because it’s the character Death who is speaking here, in a voice like two concrete blocks being rubbed together, or the slamming of coffin lids.
That’s what I figured, but it still looks weird without context.