Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Stanisław Lem

Quote by Stanisław Lem

“The great majority of those who came to see me belonged to the gray brotherhood of obsession, people imprisoned within a single idea, an idea not even their own but appropriated from previous generations; people like the inventors of the perpetuum mobile; weak in imagination, and trivial and absurd in their solutions. Yet even they burn with that consuming fire of objectivity that forces a man to renew efforts that are doomed to failure. How pitiful are these flawed geniuses, these titans of stunted spirit, crippled at birth by nature, who, as one of her grim jokes, bestowed upon their talentlessness a creative frenzy worthy of a Leonardo. Their lot in life is indifference or mockery, and all that you can do for them is listen patiently for an hour or two and nod at their monomania.”

Quote by Stanisław Lem

Work

Memoirs of a Space Traveler: Further Reminiscences of Ijon Tichy

Memoirs of a Space Traveler: Further Reminiscences of Ijon Tichy is a series of interconnected short stories that delve into the extraordinary adventures of Ijon Tichy, a character known for his wit and curiosity. Tichy embarks on journeys to various planets, encountering unique cultures, extraordinary beings, and thought-provoking situations. The book explores themes of human nature, the unknown, and the vastness of the cosmos through the eyes of its endearing protagonist. more

Author

Stanisław Lem

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Stanisław Lem. more

You May Also Like

“Read for yourselves, read for the sake of your inspiration, for the sweet turmoil in your lovely head. But also read against yourselves, read for questioning and impotence, for despair and erudition, read the dry sardonic remarks of cynical philosophers like Cioran or even Carl Schmitt, read newspapers, read those who despise, dismiss or simply ignore poetry and try to understand why they do it. Read your enemies, read those who reinforce your sense of what's evolving in poetry, and also read those whose darkness or malice or madness or greatness you can't understand because only in this way will you grow, outlive yourself, and become what you are.”