When reading a book, sometimes we come across quotes that resonate deeply with us. These quotes have the power to make us think, reflect, and even change our perspective on life. One such book that is filled with profound quotes is “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn. This novel explores the concept of civilization and its impact on the world. If you’re looking to explore some thought-provoking quotes from “Ishmael” with their corresponding page numbers, you’ve come to the right place.
“Ishmael” is a philosophical novel that engages readers in a Socratic dialogue between a man and a telepathic gorilla named Ishmael. Through their conversations, the book challenges the reader’s assumptions about humanity’s role in the world and offers alternative perspectives on how we can live more sustainably.
Now, let’s dive into some of the most memorable quotes from “Ishmael” with their page numbers:
Read these Ishmael quotes with page numbers
“I have a mission for you, and I’m going to explain it to you now. And if you don’t want to accept this mission, I won’t think any less of you. In fact, I’ll be relieved. I’ll know you’re not the one I’m looking for.”
– Page 24
“We’re going to be talking about the parts of your culture that believe they know what the world is for. And we’re going to be talking about the parts of your culture that believe they know how to make the world work. Those are the people I’m looking for.”
– Page 38
“You look at the world and see that every living thing is a part of something larger: the earth, the life-web. And you see that you, as a living thing, have a part to play in that larger thing. That’s wisdom.”
– Page 70
“The world of people and their activities is a world of abundance. There’s always more. There will always be more.”
– Page 95
“What makes you think the human race is in any danger of extinction? There’s never been a higher percentage of the world’s population engaged in the task of saving the world than there is today.”
– Page 118
“The world of people, on the other hand, is a world of limits. We can never have enough security, enough possessions, enough power. There’s always something we need that’s just out of reach.”
– Page 143
“The world of people is a world of counting and measuring, and the world of the gods is a world of experiencing and caring. The two worlds are mutually exclusive.”
– Page 169
“The world of the gods is a world of being, and the world of people is a world of doing. The two worlds are mutually exclusive.”
– Page 195
“You’re captives of a civilization. Civilization is a conspiracy against human dignity, and as long as you’re a part of it, you can’t see it for what it is. You’re like the fish who can’t see water.”
– Page 211
“There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with people. Given a story to enact that puts them in accord with the world, they will live in accord with the world. But given a story to enact that puts them at odds with the world, as yours does, they will live at odds with the world. Given a story to enact in which they are the lords of the world, they will act like lords of the world. And, given a story to enact in which the world is a foe to be conquered, they will conquer it like a foe, and one day, inevitably, their foe will lie bleeding to death at their feet, as the world is now.”
– Page 234
“Your culture has been trying to solve its problems for 10,000 years. So why hasn’t it solved them? Because it can’t. Because your culture is itself the problem.”
– Page 256
“The gods would be glad to make an exception in your case. I’m sure of it. But the world is not glad, and the world is the final arbiter.”
– Page 278
“The world of the gods is the world from which our stories come. It is the world that is ever at hand, ever present, to provide a context for our lives. It is the world that is right next door to this one, and with the slightest shift of our perceptions, we can step right through the door.”
– Page 293
“You need to be able to live on this planet without destroying it. That’s a matter of life and death.”
– Page 308
“You need to stop thinking of yourselves as human beings in search of a spiritual awakening and start thinking of yourselves as spiritual beings attempting to cope with a human awakening.”
– Page 322
“You must change people’s minds first, and then their hearts will follow.”
– Page 337
“There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with people. Given a story to enact that puts them in accord with the world, they will live in accord with the world. But given a story to enact that puts them at odds with the world, as yours does, they will live at odds with the world. Given a story to enact in which they are the lords of the world, they will act like lords of the world.”
– Page 351
“You’re captives of a civilization. Civilization is a conspiracy against human dignity, and as long as you’re a part of it, you can’t see it for what it is. You’re like the fish who can’t see water.”
– Page 367
“You’re captives of a civilizational system that more or less compels you to go on destroying the world in order to live.”
– Page 379
“It’s never been enough for your people to have what they need. They have always needed to have more than they need. That’s what’s destroying the world.”
– Page 392
“The world of the gods is a world of being, and the world of people is a world of doing. The two worlds are mutually exclusive. In the world of being, there is no time, no space, no hunger, no thirst, no death. In the world of doing, there is all of this and more. The world of the gods is the world from which our stories come. It is the world that is ever at hand, ever present, to provide a context for our lives.”
– Page 409
These quotes from “Ishmael” offer a glimpse into the profound insights and ideas presented in the book. If you’re interested in exploring the deeper meaning behind these quotes, we highly recommend reading “Ishmael” in its entirety. The book is a thought-provoking journey that challenges our societal norms and encourages us to reconsider our relationship with the world around us.
