“ Sicuro ⁠—if what is involved is not recklessness and loose living, but an honourable passion to explore the universe. You spoke of ‘hubris,’ that was the word you employed. The hubris which the reason opposes to the powers of darkness is the highest human expression, and calls down upon it the swift revenge of envious gods⁠—as when, per esempio , such an ark deluxe gets shipwrecked and goes gallantly beneath the waves. That is defeat with honour. Prometheus too was guilty of hubris⁠—and his torture on the Scythian cliffs was from our point of view a holy martyrdom. But what about that other kind of hubris, which perishes in a wanton trifling with the forces of unreason and hostility to the human race? Is that⁠—can that⁠—be honourable? Sì, o no? ”

Hans Castorp stirred his coffee-cup, though there was nothing in it.