I think perhaps we want a more conscientious life. We're…
““I think perhaps we want a more conscientious life. We're tired of drudging and sleeping and dying. We're tired of always deferring hope to the next generation. We're tired of hearing the politicians and priests and cautious reformers (and the husbands!) coax us, 'Be calm! Be patient! Wait! We have plans for a Utopia already made; just give us a bit more time and we'll produce it; trust us; we're wiser than you.' For ten thousand years they've said that. We want our Utopia now - and we're going to try our hands at it. All we want is - everything for all of us! For every housewife and every longshoreman and every Hindu nationalist and every teacher. We want everything. We sha'n't get it. So we sha'n't ever be content -””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People demand immediate utopia, rejecting endless promises of future perfection, leading to perpetual discontent.
In simple terms: We want a perfect world now, not later.
Key Takeaway
Demand action now, not empty promises.
Themes
politics
social change
hope
discontent
Mood
determined
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- protest movements
- policy reform
- community organizing
- public discourse
Key Concepts
utopianism
activism
generational justice
Questions to Reflect On
- What concrete steps can create a better future?
- How do you balance hope with realism?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can overlook practical constraints.