Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Mark Slouka

Quote by Mark Slouka

“The case for the humanities is not hard to make, though it can be difficult--to such an extent have we been marginalized, so long have we acceded to that marginalization--not to sound either defensive or naive. The humanities, done right, are the crucible in which our evolving notions of what it means to be fully human are put to the test; they teach us, incrementally, endlessly, not what to do, but how to be. Their method is confrontational, their domain unlimited, their "product" not truth but the reasoned search for truth, their "success" something very much like Frost's momentary stay against confusion.”

Quote by Mark Slouka

Work

Essays from the Nick of Time: Reflections and Refutations

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Mark Slouka
Mark Slouka

Mark Slouka is an American novelist born in 1958. His works often delve into the relationship between individuals and society, as well as the profound meaning of human existence. Slouka's novels are known for their deep insights and rich emotions. more

You May Also Like

“I tried to map the cultural trends leading up to it but as I did they grew, interconnecting and weaving backwards and sideways out to everything. Next to the megalithic institutionalized shredding of people's humanity, marked by tombstone malls and scabby hills, the Styrofoam gullets and flag-waving god-chatterers casting their votes for eternal paternity on the lap rapists - next to all of that, the intimacy between a terrorist and his target was almost a beautiful thing but I still couldn't solve that moment when they did it anyway so I grabbed more paper and widened my field of vision.”