In ridiculing a pathetic human fallacy, which seeks explanation where none need be sought and which multiplies unnecessary assumptions, one should not mimic primitive ontology in order to challenge it. Better to dispose of the needless assumption altogether. This holds true for everything from Noah's flood to the Holocaust.

~ Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake Acts Of God Atheism Deluge Myth God Holocaust Noah Ontology Pathetic Fallacy Problem Of Evil Religion Theodicy

The twentieth century has built up a powerful set of intellectual shortcuts and devices that help us defend ourselves against moments when clouds suddenly appear to think.

~ Charles Baxter

Charles Baxter Anthropomorphization Consensual Reality Pathetic Fallacy Sanity Writing

Her lips trembled, and so did his. It was never known which lips were the first to move towards the other lips; but they kissed tremblingly, and then they moved apart.The rain was dashing against the window-panes as if an angry spirit were within it, and behind it was the great swoop of the wind; it was one of those moments in which both the busy and the idle pause with a certain awe.

~ George Eliot

George Eliot Kiss Nature Pathetic Fallacy Rain