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When hopes are loose in the streets, it is well for the…

“When hopes are loose in the streets, it is well for the timid to lock doors, shutter windows and lie low until the wrath has passed. For there is often a monstrous incongruity between the hopes, however noble and tender, and the action which hollows them. It is as if ivied maidens and garlanded…” quote by Eric Hoffer
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““When hopes are loose in the streets, it is well for the timid to lock doors, shutter windows and lie low until the wrath has passed. For there is often a monstrous incongruity between the hopes, however noble and tender, and the action which hollows them. It is as if ivied maidens and garlanded youths were to herald the four horsemen of the apocalypse.””

Eric Hoffer

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hopeful aspirations often clash with harsh realities, prompting cautious self‑preservation during turbulent times.

In simple terms: Hope and danger clash, so stay safe.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when to protect yourself.

Themes

caution hope conflict

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

cautionary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • political unrest
  • personal safety
  • media consumption
  • community vigilance

Key Concepts

human nature social tension psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you felt hopeful yet unsafe?
  • How do you balance optimism with prudence?
A Different Perspective

Hopeful be be mistaken for action, leading to missed opportunities.

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