Frankenstein Quotes
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The modern masters promise very little; they know that metals cannot be transmuted and that the elixir of life is a chimera but these philosophers, whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles. They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding-places. They ascend into the heavens; they have discovered how the blood circulates, and the nature of the air we breathe. They have acquired new and almost unlimited powers; they can command the thunders of heaven, mimic the earthquake, and even mock the invisible world with its own shadows.
Context
In Frankenstein, Victor goes away to study at a university called Ingolstadt at age seventeen. Some guy named M. Krempe teaches natural philosophy and basically discredits alchemy entirely, to Victor's dismay. (Imagine studying all through high school only to get to college and have your teachers tell you that everything you know is wrong and stupid.) Luckily, Victor meets a nice chemistry professor named Waldman and decides to study science.
The real kind.
In this quote, M. Waldman claims that modern scientists have pretty tame goals compared to the ancient alchemists, but to Victor, this is staggering stuff: they're unlocking the secrets of existence. (Can you imagine what he'd do with an iPad?)
Where you've heard it
We're guessing Mary Shelley wasn't thinking of home decor or Magic: The Gathering when discussing the "modern masters."
Maybe he'd have been more into this book series, though.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Hating on the best of the best? Yeah, that's a little pretentious.