The trouble with righting some wrongs is that it makes the remaining ones seem even more unbearable.
A. A. GillRead
If the world were to end tomorrow and we could choose to save only one thing as the explanation and memorial to who we were, then we couldn't do better than the Natural History Museum, although it wouldn't contain a single human. The systematic Linnean order, the vast inquisitiveness and range of collated knowledge and beauty would tell all that is the best of us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of nature and knowledge, suggesting that they reflect the best aspects of humanity.
A. A. Gill suggests that if humanity were to leave behind a legacy, the Natural History Museum would represent our essence better than any human creation. This museum embodies the organized beauty and knowledge of the natural world, showcasing human curiosity and our relationship with nature, even though it is devoid of human presence. It serves as a testament to what we value and cherish about our existence.
Themes
NatureKnowledgeLegacyLegacy Of HumanityMuseum
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of preserving natural history and biodiversity.
More from A. A. Gill
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Being able to afford everything you desire is not, by any means, the worst thing that can happen to you. But, depressingly, and more profoundly, neither is it the best.
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America didn’t bypass or escape civilization. It did something far more profound, far cleverer: it simply changed what civilization could be.
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Celebrity is a national drama whose characters' parts and plots are written by the tabloids, gossip columnists, websites and interactive buttons. The famous don't actually have to turn up to their own lives at all.
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Trying to learn to be a good man is like learning to play tennis against a wall. You are only a good man - a competent, capable, interesting and lovable man - when you're doing it for, or with, other people.
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