“If thou wouldst have humanity advance, buffet all preconceived ideas. Thought thus smitten awakes and becomes creative. Otherwise it rests in a mechanical repetition and mistakes that for its right activity.”

—  Sri Aurobindo

Thoughts and Glimpses (1916-17)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "If thou wouldst have humanity advance, buffet all preconceived ideas. Thought thus smitten awakes and becomes creative.…" by Sri Aurobindo?
Sri Aurobindo photo
Sri Aurobindo 224
Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, gur… 1872–1950

Related quotes

Didier Sornette photo

“The phenomena and underlying mechanisms discussed in this book may thus become even more relevant to a larger and larger portion of human activity. Understand their origin, and be prepared for subtle but significant precursors!”

Didier Sornette (1957) French scientist

Source: Why Stock Markets Crash - Critical Events in Complex Systems (2003), Chapter 10, 2050: The End Of The Growth Era?, p. 396.

Adelaide Anne Procter photo

“If thou couldst trust, poor soul!
In Him who rules the whole,
Thou wouldst find peace and rest;
Wisdom and sight are well, but trust is best.”

Adelaide Anne Procter (1825–1864) English poet and songwriter

Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 597.

John Updike photo

“Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better.”

John Updike (1932–2009) American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic
Vannevar Bush photo

“Much needs to occur, however, between the collection of data and observations, the extraction of parallel material from the existing record, and the final insertion of new material into the general body of the common record. For mature thought there is no mechanical substitute. But creative thought and essentially repetitive thought are very different things. For the latter there are, and may be, powerful mechanical aids.”

Vannevar Bush book As We May Think

As We May Think (1945)

Thomas Malory photo

“Knight, keep well thy head, for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse.”

Thomas Malory book Le Morte d'Arthur

Book III, ch. 12
Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469) (first known edition 1485)

D.H. Lawrence photo

“But better die than live mechanically a life that is a repetition of repetitions.”

D.H. Lawrence book Women in Love

Source: Women in Love (1920), Ch. 15

Andrei Tarkovsky photo

“Perhaps the meaning of all human activity lies in the artistic consciousness, in the pointless and selfless creative act?”

Andrei Tarkovsky book Sculpting in Time

Source: Sculpting in Time (1986), p. 241
Context: Perhaps the meaning of all human activity lies in the artistic consciousness, in the pointless and selfless creative act? Perhaps our capacity to create is evidence that we ourselves were created in the image and likeness of God?

Napoleon Hill photo

“Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.”

Napoleon Hill book Think and Grow Rich

Source: Think and Grow Rich (1938), p. 54

Martin Luther King, Jr. photo

“In the struggle for human rights and justice, Negros will make a mistake if they become bitter and indulge in hate campaigns.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement

Speech delivered in Finney Chapel at Oberlin College (7 February 1957), as reported in "When MLK came to Oberlin" by Cindy Leise (The Chronicle-Telegram; January 21, 2008) http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2008/01/21/when-mlk-came-to-oberlin/
1950s

Related topics