Why may we not be in the universe, as our dogs and cats are in our drawingrooms and libraries?

William James
About This Quote

Why may we not be in the universe, as our dogs and cats are in our drawingrooms and libraries? was an essay written by Thomas Huxley, who also wrote on the topic of Evolution. In this essay Huxley expresses his awe at the wonder of the universe. He states that he would like us to become more like animals in all aspects of life. He says that instead of living in cardboard boxes that are barely big enough for two people to live in, he would like us to live in rooms that are large enough to hold several people. He would like us to speak clearly, walk calmly on our feet, and look at our world with more appreciation.

Source: The Correspondence Of William James: 18851889

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  1. The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude.
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