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
Of our relation to all creation we can never know anything whatsoever. All is immensity and chaos. But, since all this knowledge of our limitations cannot possibly be of any value to us, it is better to ignore it in our daily conduct of life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while we may be limited in our understanding of the universe, focusing on these limitations is not useful for daily life.
Lovecraft expresses a philosophical view on human knowledge and existence, highlighting that the vastness and chaos of the universe make it impossible for us to fully comprehend our relationship to creation. He argues that instead of dwelling on our ignorance and limitations, it is more beneficial to ignore these thoughts and focus on living our daily lives without being paralyzed by existential questions.
Themes
KnowledgeIgnoranceExistenceLifeChaos
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion about the limits of human understanding.
More from H. P. Lovecraft
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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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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