Quotes from book
The Absolute at Large

Karel Čapek Original title Továrna na absolutno (Czech, 1922)

The Absolute at Large , is a science fiction novel written by Czech author Karel Čapek in 1922. The first sentence opens the story on New Year's Day 1943 - a future date at the time of writing - and describes the fundamental transformations in society as the result of a new mystical source of virtually free energy.


Karel Čapek photo
Karel Čapek photo
Karel Čapek photo
Karel Čapek photo

“I've tried all isolating materials that might possibly prevent the Absolute from getting out of the cellar: ashes, sand, metal walls, but nothing can stop it.”

The Absolute at Large (1921)
Context: I've tried all isolating materials that might possibly prevent the Absolute from getting out of the cellar: ashes, sand, metal walls, but nothing can stop it. I've even tried lining the cellar walls with the works of Professors Krejci, Spencer, and Haeckle, all the Positivists you can think of; if you can believe it, the Absolute penetrates even things like that.

Similar authors

Karel Čapek photo
Karel Čapek 51
Czech writer 1890–1938
Václav Klaus photo
Václav Klaus 3
2nd President of the Czech Republic
Tomáš Baťa photo
Tomáš Baťa 7
Czech businessman
Milan Kundera photo
Milan Kundera 198
Czech author of Czech and French literature
Václav Havel photo
Václav Havel 126
playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and 1st President of …
Emil Zátopek photo
Emil Zátopek 5
Czech Olympic long-distance runner
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk photo
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk 9
First Czechoslovak president
Karl Kraus photo
Karl Kraus 94
Czech playwright and publicist
Julio Cortázar photo
Julio Cortázar 29
Argentinian writer
Luciano De Crescenzo photo
Luciano De Crescenzo 1
Italian writer