Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Letters: Edgar Allan Poe


I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. — Edgar Allan Poe to James Russell Lowell, July 2, 1844

7 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

humanity changes over many thousands of years, if it changes at all.

Heath Lowrance said...

Yep. Well-said, Mr. Poe.

Oscar Case said...

Doesn't appear to be any improvement, but humanity doesn't have a goal, it's just there.

Randy Johnson said...

Yes, the human will always be an unfinished product.

David Cranmer said...

If you get a chance the longer letter I link to is equally as revealing/interesting.

Dave King said...

I'd not heard that quote before and not thought about the question in that way, but i'm sure he was spot on!

Ron Scheer said...

On the other hand, consider the source.