Full Idea
The desire to discover something new prevents people from allowing their thoughts to dwell on the transcendent, undemonstrable meaning of what has already been discovered.
Gist of Idea
Wanting new discoveries blocks good thinking about what has been discovered
Source
Simone Weil (Gravity and Grace [1942], 'Intelligence')
Book Reference
Weil,Simone: 'Gravity and Grace', ed/tr. Crawford/De Ruhr [Routledge 1952], p.130
A Reaction
Struck a strong chord with me. The principal motivation for this collection of ideas. I am generally a pessimistic about future discoveries of anything other than new gadgets. We may be at the end of a two century golden age. Time to consolidate.