William James describes a man who got the experience from laughing-gas; whenever he was under its influence, he knew the secret of the universe, but when he came to, he had forgotten it. At last, with immense effort, he wrote down the secret before the vision had faded. When completely recovered, he rushed to see what he had written. It was: "A smell of petroleum prevails throughout. Bertrand Russell
About This Quote

William James was an American philosopher and psychologist. He is described as the “father of American psychology.” His work has been influential in the field of philosophy, psychology and religion. In this quote, he is describing what happens when a person is under the influence of laughing gas. The person will apparently remember everything that happened when under its influence, but when they come back to their senses, the memory will have faded and they will be unable to recall anything that happened while under the influence.

Once they begin to recover from the effects of laughing gas, they will rush to see what they wrote down while under its influence. They might find something like: “A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.”

Source: A History Of Western Philosophy

Some Similar Quotes
  1. The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people in life recognize, that in life they... - Neil Degrasse Tyson
  2. And sometimes I believe your relentless analysis of June leaves something out, which is your feeling for her beyond knowledge, or in spite of knowledge. I often see how you sob over what you destroy, how you want to stop and just worship; and you... - Unknown
  3. The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom. - Isaac Asimov
  4. I'm sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It's just been too intelligent to come here. - Arthur C. Clarke
  5. A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. - Charles Darwin
More Quotes By Bertrand Russell
  1. Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.
  2. To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already 3-parts dead.
  3. Those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give.
  4. Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a great ocean...
  5. Remember your humanity, and forget the rest.
Related Topics