Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” stands as a towering work in the 20th-century literature, offering a prophetic glimpse into a future where societal norms and technological advancements challenge the very essence of human nature.
After we have discussed the plot and characters of the novel in Brave New World Summary and Characters, in today’s post I am sharing with you this collection of awesome quotes from the novel. These nuggets of wisdom serve as piercing insights into Huxley’s vision, each one a thread in the complex tapestry of themes he weaves—themes of freedom versus control, the pursuit of happiness at the cost of truth, and the deep-seated human longing for meaning beyond material comfort.
As we explore these quotes, let us consider the implications of Huxley’s vision for our own lives and societies, and the ways in which we might navigate the delicate balance between the allure of comfort and the often tumultuous, but ultimately rewarding, pursuit of a life lived in full color and depth.
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Brave New World Quotes
Here are some of the best quotes that stood out to me from Brave New World:
“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“I want to know what passion is. I want to feel something strongly.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery.”― Aldous Huxley, Brave New Worl
“One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“…most men and women will grow up to love their servitude and will never dream of revolution.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“If one’s different, one’s bound to be lonely.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“No social stability without individual stability.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Pain was a fascinating horror” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“God isn’t compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness. You must make a choice. Our civilization has chosen machinery and medicine and happiness.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“I am I, and I wish I weren’t.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New Worl
“Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“A love of nature keeps no factories busy.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“It isn’t only art that is incompatible with happiness, it’s also science. Science is dangerous, we have to keep it most carefully chained and muzzled.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“We don’t want to change. Every change is a menace to stability.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Can you say something about nothing?” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Well, I’d rather be unhappy than have the sort of false, lying happiness you were having here.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
“Never put off till tomorrow the fun you can have today.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Final thoughts
In conclusion, Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” and the carefully selected quotes provided offer us a profound lens through which to examine the complexities of human existence, societal constructs, and the innate desires that drive us. Huxley’s visionary narrative is not merely a cautionary tale about a dystopian future; it’s a deep dive into the essence of what it means to be human in a world where technological advancements and societal norms threaten to erode the core of individuality and freedom.
The power of these quotes lies in their ability to provoke thought, inspire introspection, and challenge us to reconsider our values, aspirations, and the societal pressures that shape our lives. They serve as a reminder that the quest for happiness, knowledge, and genuine connection is fraught with challenges, but it’s a journey worth embarking on, regardless of the uncertainties and risks involved.