“Imagine what might be accomplished if this talent and energy were turned to philosophy, to theology, to the arts, to imaginative literature or to education?”
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985)
Context: In a world populated by people who believe that through more and more information, paradise is attainable, the computer scientist is king. But I maintain that all of this is a monumental and dangerous waste of human talent and energy. Imagine what might be accomplished if this talent and energy were turned to philosophy, to theology, to the arts, to imaginative literature or to education? Who knows what we could learn from such people — perhaps why there are wars, and hunger, and homelessness and mental illness and anger.
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Neil Postman106
American writer and academic 1931–2003Related quotes
Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer
Original: Nell'arte non basta avere talento. Un vero artista con la mente non deve mai mancare di immaginazione ed ordinare al proprio corpo di eseguire, ricordare e poi archiviare.
Source: prevale.net
“Imagine what could be accomplished if only the human race would shed its humanity.”
Max Brooks book World War Z
Source: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
“Your talent is in your imagination. The rest is lice.”
Stella Adler (1901–1992) American actress and teaching coach
Obituary in New York Times
Saul Bellow book Henderson the Rain King
General sources
Source: Henderson the Rain King (1959) [Viking/Penguin, 1984, ISBN 0-140-07269-1], ch. XVIII, p. 271
Saul Bellow book Henderson the Rain King
Henderson the Rain King (1959) [Viking/Penguin, 1984, ], ch. XVIII, p. 271
General sources
“The imagination is not a talent of some men but is the health of every man.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) American philosopher, essayist, and poet
Poetry and Imagination <br class="br">1870s, Society and Solitude (1870), Books, Letters and Social Aims http://www.rwe.org/comm/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=5&id=74&Itemid=149 (1876)
J.M. DeMatteis (1953) comics illustrator
A Conversation With The Legendary J.M. DeMatteis! (2004)
Context: As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’m a Total Disnoid. Walt Disney is one of my heroes: it’s extraordinary what one man, armed only with will and imagination, accomplished. To be a part of that history, that legacy — in any small way — is really an honor.