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Surely you're not saying that God had to choose between long life and intelligence for human beings! It's there in your own Bible, Carlotta. Two trees - knowledge and life. You eat of the tree of knowledge and you will surely die. You eat of the tree of life and you remain a child in the garden forever, undying.
Orson Scott Card
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote contrasts the pursuit of knowledge with the desire for eternal life, suggesting a choice between intellectual understanding and a simple, eternal existence.

In this quote, Orson Scott Card presents a philosophical dilemma rooted in biblical imagery. The 'tree of knowledge' symbolizes the pursuit of wisdom and understanding, which often leads to the complexities and challenges of life. Conversely, the 'tree of life' represents a state of innocence and eternal existence without the burdens of knowledge. This dichotomy invites reflection on the values we hold regarding intelligence and immortality, and whether one can truly exist without the other.

Themes

KnowledgeLifeChoiceWisdomEternity

In practice

Example use cases

In a philosophy class discussing the implications of knowledge on human existence.

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Quote by Orson Scott Card | QuoteProject