There are horrors beyond life's edge that we do not suspect, and once in a while man's evil prying calls them just within our range.
H. P. LovecraftRead
The man or nation of high culture may acknowledge to great lengths the restraints imposed by conventions and honour, but beyond a certain point, primitive will or desire cannot be curbed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that despite societal conventions, deep primal desires and instincts can ultimately dominate human behavior.
H. P. Lovecraft's quote reflects on the tension between civilization's expectations and the inherent, often uncontrollable, instincts present in human nature. It highlights that no matter how cultured or refined individuals or societies may become, there exists a limit to how much they can suppress their most basic desires. At some point, the primal aspects of human existence will surge forth, challenging the constraints of social order and moral conventions.
Themes
CultureDesireInstinctSocietyNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on human nature, this quote can illustrate how primal instincts influence behavior.
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All quotes →I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.
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The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination.
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No new horror can be more terrible than the daily torture of the commonplace.
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I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality.
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