“We see past time in a telescope and present time in a microscope. Hence the apparent enormities of the present.”
- February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885
- Born in France
- Author, poet, playwright
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Quote
“We see past time in a telescope and present time in a microscope. Hence the apparent enormities of the present.”
Explanation
In this quote, Victor Hugo uses the imagery of a telescope and a microscope to reflect on how we perceive time. When we look back at the past, we use a telescope, meaning that we view history from a distance, where events appear smaller, more manageable, and often simplified. The past, in this view, is something we can contextualize and see in its full scope, giving us a sense of perspective. In contrast, we view the present through a microscope, focusing on the minute details, which can make current events seem more overwhelming or exaggerated than they actually are. By zooming in on the struggles or crises of today, we often lose sight of the bigger picture and the fact that such challenges are part of the ebb and flow of history.
Hugo’s statement also points to the natural tendency of humans to be more affected by immediacy—the pressure and complexity of current events—as opposed to the past, which can be seen through the lens of hindsight and reflection. This perspective leads to the enormity of present difficulties seeming larger than they truly are, because they are seen through a narrow, intense focus, rather than with the understanding that comes from looking back over time.
In modern terms, this quote is a reflection on how current crises or challenges may seem exaggerated due to the immediacy with which we experience them. It reminds us that, much like when we look at the past through a telescope, the challenges we face today may appear less daunting when seen in the broader context of history. It encourages us to keep perspective, understanding that the enormities of the present are often products of our intense focus, and that time will give us the distance needed to put things into proportion.
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