“The mind of man, though perhaps the most splendid achievement of evolution, is not, surely, that answer to every problem of the universe.”

— Robertson Davies

Opera and Humour (1991)
Context: The mind of man, though perhaps the most splendid achievement of evolution, is not, surely, that answer to every problem of the universe. Hamlet suffers, but the Gravediggers go right on with their silly quibbles.

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Robertson Davies282

Canadian journalist, playwright, professor, critic, and nov… 1913–1995

Gregory Bateson book Steps to an Ecology of Mind

Source: Steps to an Ecology of Mind (1972), p. 336

“To every man of vision the clear Voice speaks; there is no great leadership where there is not a mystic. Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside themselves was superior to circumstance. To choose the sure thing is treason to the soul.”

Bruce Fairchild Barton book The Man Nobody Knows

On Jesus, in Ch. 1 : The Executive
The Man Nobody Knows (1924)

“They say we offer simple answers to complex problems. Well, perhaps there is a simple answer — not an easy answer — but simple.”

Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American politician, 40th president of the United States (in office from 1981 to 1989)

In some published transcripts or quotations of this speech a variant of this statement appears immediately before the quote by Churchill below, but was not said during Reagan's televised address on (27 October 1964). Though he did make variations of the speech elsewhere it is unclear exactly when and where he may have said used these precise words:<br>: They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong. There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. <br class="br">Later variant: For many years now, you and I have been shushed like children and told there are no simple answers to the complex problems which are beyond our comprehension. Well, the truth is, there are simple answers, they just are not easy ones.<br>:* California Gubernatorial Inauguration Speech (5 January 1967) http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/govspeech/01051967a.htm <br class="br">1960s, A Time for Choosing (1964)

“The most telling and profound way of describing the evolution of the universe would undoubtedly be to trace the evolution of love.”

Pierre Teilhard De Chardin (1881–1955) French philosopher and Jesuit priest

“We always may be sure that every man-made thing arises from a problem as a purposeful solution.”

George Kubler (1912–1996) American art historian

Source: The Shape of Time, 1982, p. 8.

“The greatest problem for the human race, to the solution of which Nature drives man, is the achievement of a universal civic society which administers law among men.”

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) German philosopher

Fifth Thesis
Idea for a Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View (1784)

“the answer to every problem involved penguins”

Rick Riordan book The Throne of Fire

Source: The Throne of Fire

“The Athanasian Creed is the most splendid ecclesiastical lyric ever poured forth by the genius of man.”

Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Prime Minister

Source: Books, Coningsby (1844), Endymion (1880), Ch. 52.

“Libertarianism is clearly the most, perhaps the only truly radical movement in America. It grasps the problems of society by the roots. It is not reformist in any sense. It is revolutionary in every sense.”

Karl Hess (1923–1994) American journalist

"Letter From Washington," http://www.panarchy.org/hess/libertarianism.html The Libertarian Forum 1, no. 6 http://web.archive.org/web/20071201123614/http://mises.org/journals/lf/1969/1969_06_15.pdf (15 June 1969), p. 2

“People will continue to search for answers to universal and perplexing problems. But to find meaningful answers, one must first know what questions to ask.”

Jacque Fresco (1916–2017) American futurist and self-described social engineer

Source: The Best That Money Can't Buy: Beyond Politics, Poverty, & War (2002), p. 18.

“The mind of man, though perhaps the most splendid achievement of evolution, is not, surely, that answer to every problem of the universe.”

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