Coming home Quote by Alan Paton
““We do not know, we do not know. We shall live from day to day, and put more locks on the doors, and get a fine fierce dog when the fine fierce bitch next door has pups, and hold on to our handbags more tenaciously; and the beauty of the trees by night, and the raptures of lovers under the stars, these things we shall forego. We shall forego the coming home drunken through the midnight streets, and the evening walk over the star-lit veld. We shall be careful, and knock this off our lives, and knock that off our lives, and hedge ourselves about with safety and precaution. And our lives will shrink, but they shall be the lives of superior beings; and we shall live with fear, but at least it will not be a fear of the unknown. And the conscience shall be thrust down; the light of life shall not be extinguished, but be put under a bushel, to be preserved for a generation that will live by it again, in some day not yet come; and how it will come, and when it will come, we shall not think about at all.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, 1948
A cautionary vision of a society that trades freedom and wonder for excessive safety, resulting in a diminished, fearful existence.
In simple terms: Too much safety kills joy and curiosity.
Key Takeaway
Balance caution with openness.
Themes
freedom
fear
society
conformity
generational legacy
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
warning
social commentary
When to use this quote
- urban life
- parenting
- policy making
- personal growth
- community planning
Key Concepts
existentialism
social critique
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What freedoms are you willing to risk for safety?
- How does fear of the unknown shape your choices?
A Different Perspective
Over‑protectiveness can stifle creativity and resilience.
