Over thousands of years, intellectuals have presented their viewpoints on the guidelines of human existence. The Age of Enlightenment, hence the name, was a time of new thoughts, ingenuity, and a stronger understanding of the universe. In his The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790), author William Blake attempts to defy the teachings of an Anglican Church—which he believes has become far too corrupt to impose its authority on the laity of England. One of Blake’s aphorisms states that: “What is now proved was once only imagin’d.” Blake’s aphorisms vary in their interpretation, yet most apply to many real world situations. Perhaps the purpose of said aphorism is to encourage those who imagine to believe that their ideas may amount to what is the truth for future generations.
Moreover, some of the most famous quotes recorded in human history have been spoken by imaginative thinkers. Lord Byron once concluded that: “I supposed we shall soon travel by air-vessels; make air instead of sea voyages; and at length find our way to the Moon, in spite of the want of atmosphere.” Nearly a century after Byron’s death, a Curtiss NC-4 became the first plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Just four decades later, Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on the Lunar surface. Lord Byron, like many philosophers of his time, imagined that humans would one day take …show more content…
Lord Byron’s thoughts suggest that in a century, what is simply a figment of the imagination of the philosophical mind today may reveal itself for all to know as reality in the future. The ideas expressed through Card’s novel, upon close analysis, display that the progressiveness of civilization is never inconsiderable—even within a fictional setting. The truth is: as a society, our minds are programmed to ponder what we can’t do, rather than what might be within reach. Perhaps Blake’s words should be taken into consideration for those who seek
Moreover, some of the most famous quotes recorded in human history have been spoken by imaginative thinkers. Lord Byron once concluded that: “I supposed we shall soon travel by air-vessels; make air instead of sea voyages; and at length find our way to the Moon, in spite of the want of atmosphere.” Nearly a century after Byron’s death, a Curtiss NC-4 became the first plane to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Just four decades later, Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on the Lunar surface. Lord Byron, like many philosophers of his time, imagined that humans would one day take …show more content…
Lord Byron’s thoughts suggest that in a century, what is simply a figment of the imagination of the philosophical mind today may reveal itself for all to know as reality in the future. The ideas expressed through Card’s novel, upon close analysis, display that the progressiveness of civilization is never inconsiderable—even within a fictional setting. The truth is: as a society, our minds are programmed to ponder what we can’t do, rather than what might be within reach. Perhaps Blake’s words should be taken into consideration for those who seek