>People and the institutions around them that was meant to educate and guide out of ignorance and into understanding have been misguided and deceived. This is true- but the solution presented by this line of "There are just some things we should not know, because people and institutions can be misguided and deceived." This is very nihilistic, as is HP Lovecraft himself- I think one would struggle to argue that he wasn't an absolute cynic and pessimist. Lovecraft's philosophy would be "do NOT look into the dark, because it MIGHT consume you". This is cowardice. HP Lovecraft channeled all of his neurotic fears into his writings. He was terrified of the ocean, hence why most of his monsters have aquatic traits like tentacles and such. HP Lovecraft sort of lacked the ability to look at the "small picture" because his mind is so overwhelmed trying to process the "big picture". I can sympathize with this on many levels. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to advance our understanding of the nature of the world/plane of existence in which we live. If that line of research leads to the discovery of a gigantic god-squid being slumbering in a sunken city, who will awaken and destroy us all eventually- it's no different than the death that awaits us all. He *might* awaken in our lifetime; or we *might* grow old, have children and die in a bed. Lovecraft's "cosmic horror" lies in "ifs" and "mights" and "could bes". It really gives the impression of a very anxious individual, which lines up with everything we know about the man himself. It's ironic that he became so famous and inspired so much after he died- I don't think he'd have enjoyed the fame. He surely could've used the money though...