The evolution of man is the evolution of his consciousness, and 'consciousness' cannot evolve unconsciously. The evolution of man is the evolution of his will, and 'will' cannot evolve involuntarily.
G. I. GurdjieffRead
Humanity is moving in a circle. The progress in mechanical things of the past hundred years has proceeded at the cost of losing many other things which perhaps were much more important for it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that while technological advancements have progressed, they may have led to the neglect of other important aspects of humanity.
G. I. Gurdjieff's quote reflects a deep philosophical concern about the trajectory of human progress, emphasizing that technological advancements in mechanical fields over the last century may come at the expense of essential elements of human experience and values. It urges reflection on what might be lost as society prioritizes material progress over spiritual, emotional, and cultural growth, indicating a cyclical nature of human endeavor where gains in one area may lead to losses in another.
Themes
HumanityProgressTechnologyValuesLoss
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the impact of technology on human relationships.
More from G. I. Gurdjieff
All quotes →Conscious faith is freedom. Emotional faith is slavery. Mechanical faith is foolishness.
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It is the greatest mistake to think that man is always one and the same. A man is never the same for long. He is continually changing. He seldom remains the same even for half an hour.
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Laughter relieves us of superfluous energy, which, if it remained unused, might become negative, that is, poison. Laughter is the antidote.
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If a man could understand all the horror of the lives of ordinary people who are turning around in a circle of insignificant interests and insignificant aims, if he could understand what they are losing, he would understand that there can only be one thing that is serious for him - to escape from the general law, to be free. What can be serious for a man in prison who is condemned to death? Only one thing: How to save himself, how to escape: nothing else is serious.
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