Quotes from book
The Absolute at Large

Name: The Absolute at Large
Author: Karel Čapek

Karel ČapekOriginal 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.

“There came into the world an unlimited abundance of everything people need. But people need everything except unlimited abundance.”

Karel Čapek book The Absolute at Large

The Absolute at Large (1921)

“At the Petrin telegraph station, religion broke out like an epidemic. For no earthly reason, all the telegraph operators on duty were sending out ecstatic messages to the whole world, a sort of new gospel saying that God is coming back down to earth to redeem it …”

Karel Čapek book The Absolute at Large

The Absolute at Large (1921)

“You can have a revolution wherever you like, except in a government office; even were the world to come to an end, you'd have to destroy the universe first and then government offices.”

Karel Čapek book The Absolute at Large

The Absolute at Large (1921)

“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.”

Karel Čapek book The Absolute at Large

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.