Nothing exasperates the spirit in man more than power which seems unconquerable and which makes impotent all protest.
George William RussellRead
We have the universe to roam in in imagination. It is our virtue to be infinitely varied. The worst tyranny is uniformity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Imagination allows us to explore limitless possibilities, while uniformity restricts our potential.
This quote emphasizes the importance of imagination and variety in human experience. George William Russell suggests that the ability to envision new ideas and alternatives is a crucial virtue, contrasting this with the restrictive nature of uniformity, which he identifies as a form of tyranny that limits freedom and creativity. Thus, embracing diversity in thought and expression enriches our lives and the universe we inhabit.
Themes
ImaginationUniformityVarietyCreativityFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about fostering creativity in education, one might use this quote to highlight the need for diverse thinking.
More from George William Russell
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There are no perfect human beings! Persons can be found who are good, very good indeed, in fact, great. There do in fact exist creators, seers, sages, saints, shakers, and movers...even if they are uncommon and do not come by the dozen. And yet these very same people can at times be boring, irritating, petulant, selfish, angry, or depressed. To avoid disillusionment with human nature, we must first give up our illusions about it.
Abraham MaslowRead
When we consider reality itself we quickly become aware of its infinite complexity, and we realize that our habitual perception of it is often inadequate. If this were not so, the concept of deception would be meaningless.
Dalai LamaRead
Nothing that comes and goes is you. _x000D_ _x000D_ 'I am bored.' Who knows this? _x000D_ _x000D_ 'I am angry, sad, afraid.' Who knows this? _x000D_ _x000D_ You are the knowing, not the condition that is known.
Eckhart TolleRead
Lying is an elementary means of self-defense.
Susan SontagRead
I do not accept any absolute formulas for living. No preconceived code can see ahead to everything that can happen in a man's life. As we live, we grow and our beliefs change. They must change. So I think we should live with this constant discovery. We should be open to this adventure in heightened awareness of living. We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience.
Martin BuberRead
Within the United States, we have put great emphasis upon political freedoms. Because it has been our experience that these freedoms can lead to others.
Robert KennedyRead