"I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago"
- Edgar Allan Poe
About this Quote
Edgar Allan Poe's quote expresses an extensive apprehension regarding the concept of human perfectibility and development. At its core, the declaration challenges the Enlightenment and Romantic suitables of human improvement and societal advancement through rational thought, innovation, and moral development. Poe's assertion that "human effort will have no considerable result upon mankind" recommends a belief that, in spite of countless efforts and undertakings focused on enhancing the human condition, our essential nature and situations remain mostly unchanged. His viewpoint lines up with a more cynical or a minimum of cynical view of humanity, a style that often penetrates his literary work.
Poe's recommendation to the previous 6000 years serves to emphasize the long-term stagnancy he views in human happiness and wisdom. By acknowledging that "Man is now just more active," he implies that technological and industrial advancements have actually spurred more mad activity without fundamentally modifying the essence of human life. In reality, Poe appears to review the very advancements that lots of hail as signs of development, suggesting instead that they do not associate with increases in happiness or knowledge. The expression "not more pleased - nor more smart" highlights this detachment between development in regards to technological expertise and authentic enhancements in the human experience.
In addition, Poe's perspective could be analyzed as a critique of the overreliance on factor and science to solve existential and ethical problems. It provides a timeless reflection on the limits of human ability, knowledge, and the illusion of control over our fate. The quote invites reflection on what constitutes real progress and questions whether advances in knowledge and innovation equate to meaningful improvements in the human condition. Ultimately, Poe's hesitation works as a caution versus accepting development at face value and challenges us to think about the much deeper implications of our pursuits for both private and collective wellness.
This quote is written / told by Edgar Allan Poe between January 19, 1809 and October 7, 1849. He/she was a famous Poet from USA.
The author also have 37 other quotes.