Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.
Samuel ButlerRead
Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that questioning the value of life is a natural concern for those yet to experience it, rather than adults who have lived and learned.
Samuel Butler's quote reflects on the philosophical inquiry into the value of life. It implies that the question of whether life is worth living is more fitting for those who have not yet lived (like an embryo, who is yet to experience existence) rather than for a fully realized person. For adults, the richness of life experience often provides answers to such existential questions, suggesting that lifeβs worth is derived from lived experiences, challenges, and personal growth.
Themes
LifeValueExistencePhilosophyExperience
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about resilience, one might say, 'Is life worth living? This question asks us to reflect on our experiences and find meaning in them.'
More from Samuel Butler
All quotes βTo know God better is only to realize how impossible it is that we should ever know him at all. I know not which is more childish to deny him, or define him.
Samuel ButlerRead
Academic and aristocratic people live in such an uncommon atmosphere that common sense can rarely reach them.
Samuel ButlerRead
An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.
Samuel ButlerRead
Young people have a marvelous faculty of either dying or adapting themselves to circumstances.
Samuel ButlerRead
People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable.
Samuel ButlerRead
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I always feel uncomfortable when people speak about ordinary mortals because I've never met an ordinary man, woman or child.
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Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years.
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Japan today has become acquainted with the Western civilization of the rule of Might, but retains the characteristics of the Oriental civilization of the rule of Right. Now the question remains whether Japan will be the hawk of the Western civilization of the rule of Might, or the tower of strength of the Orient.
Sun Yat-SenRead
The consequences of our actions take hold of us, quite indifferent to our claim that meanwhile we have 'improved.
Friedrich NietzscheRead