--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I quickly discovered is that our…" description: "\"What I quickly discovered is that our so-called new South Africa has as much material for a story-teller as the old one. The landscape hasn't really ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/athol-fugard-13222_africa_what-i-quickly-discovered-is-that-our-so_2489628.jpg" --- # What I quickly discovered is that our so-called new South… ![“What I quickly discovered is that our so-called new South Africa has as much material for a story-teller as the old one. The landscape hasn't really changed. Who is in power now is different to who was in power then, but the squatter camps grow like cancer, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.” quote by Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/athol-fugard-13222_africa_what-i-quickly-discovered-is-that-our-so_2489628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/athol-fugard-13222_africa_what-i-quickly-discovered-is-that-our-so_2489628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/athol-fugard-13222_africa_what-i-quickly-discovered-is-that-our-so_2489628.jpg) > “What I quickly discovered is that our so-called new South Africa has as much material for a story-teller as the old one. The landscape hasn't really changed. Who is in power now is different to who was in power then, but the squatter camps grow like cancer, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.” [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. South Africa's social inequality persists despite political change, with wealth gaps widening. **In simple terms:** Inequality remains despite new leadership. Key Takeaway Address systemic poverty. Themes social justice inequality politics urbanization Mood concerned urgent Type analysis call to action When to use this quote - policy reform - community development - housing - education - healthcare Key Concepts post-colonial theory economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - How can new leaders break the cycle of inequality? - What policies can reduce the wealth gap? A Different Perspective Economic growth alone won’t close the gap without redistribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [Squatters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squatters/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [A person's destiny can be changed through the power of a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/a-person-s-destiny-can-be-changed-through-the-power-of-a-saint/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [I would say I've always lived creativity, but now I - I do it with an intention that's got a completely different power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-washburn/i-would-say-i-ve-always-lived-creativity-but-now-i-i-do-it-with-an/) [Abigail Washburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-washburn/) > [That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/that-which-we-persist-in-doing-becomes-easier-to-do-not-that-the-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Strawweight, they have one power. In flyweight, they have totally different power. You can be the best one in the strawweight, but here, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-shevchenko/strawweight-they-have-one-power-in-flyweight-they-have-totally/) [Valentina Shevchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-shevchenko/) > [“That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our power to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/that-which-we-persist-in-doing-becomes-easier-to-do-not-that-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“I would not ask for things to be different, because it is not in my power to know if that would be better or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cutie-cooper/i-would-not-ask-for-things-to-be-different-because-it-is-not-in-my/) [Barbara "Cutie" Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cutie-cooper/) > [One who has power has different values, suppressing the weak looks like a natural phenomena, as natural as a tiger hunting a deer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/one-who-has-power-has-different-values-suppressing-the-weak-looks/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Strength and power are as different as moon and sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xuen/strength-and-power-are-as-different-as-moon-and-sun/) Xuen > [Power is different when you combined it with wisdom. Wisdom allows you to use less power to accomplish more tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/power-is-different-when-you-combined-it-with-wisdom-wisdom-allows-you/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [Those who are leftists, once in power, are not different from other parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/those-who-are-leftists-once-in-power-are-not-different-from-other/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [Each metal has a certain power, which is different from metal to metal, of setting the electric fluid in motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-volta/each-metal-has-a-certain-power-which-is-different-from-metal-to-metal/) [Alessandro Volta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-volta/) > [Change is not about putting a different kind of people in power but a different kind of power in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-n-nagler/change-is-not-about-putting-a-different-kind-of-people-in-power-but-a/) Michael N. Nagler > [I prefer the new me a million times more over than the old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-cohen/i-prefer-the-new-me-a-million-times-more-over-than-the-old-one/) [Benjamin Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-cohen/) > [Whenever anyone calls me 'The new J..K. Rowling,' I think, 'What's wrong with the old one?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-shannon/whenever-anyone-calls-me-the-new-j-k-rowling-i-think-what-s-wrong/) [Samantha Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-shannon/) > [When a grown man reaches forty, we change him for an old one. He has completely disappeared. There's only the most superficial resemblance between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraudoux/when-a-grown-man-reaches-forty-we-change-him-for-an-old-one-he-has/) [Jean Giraudoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraudoux/) ## More by Athol Fugard > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [Love is the only energy I’ve ever used as a writer. I’ve never written out of anger, although anger has informed love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/love-is-the-only-energy-i-ve-ever-used-as-a-writer-i-ve-never-written/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [I've had one experience of writer's block in my life, and it was living hell. It was a terror for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/i-ve-had-one-experience-of-writer-s-block-in-my-life-and-it-was/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [The reason I'm in San Diego is not because I want distance from South Africa but because I want proximity to the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/the-reason-i-m-in-san-diego-is-not-because-i-want-distance-from-south/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going-2/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [“It's just that life felt the right size in there... not too big and not too small. Wasn't so hard to work up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/it-s-just-that-life-felt-the-right-size-in-there-not-too-big-and-not/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [In South Africa, success never presented the problems that it presents in New York. In New York, if you happen to be the flavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/in-south-africa-success-never-presented-the-problems-that-it-presents/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [Night-time is when I brainstorm; last thing, when the family's asleep and I'm alone, I think about the next day's writing and plan a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/night-time-is-when-i-brainstorm-last-thing-when-the-family-s-asleep/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [All of my life had been spent in the shadow of apartheid. And when South Africa went through its extraordinary change in 1994, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/all-of-my-life-had-been-spent-in-the-shadow-of-apartheid-and-when/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [“Aman cant spend his life with only one thought”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/aman-cant-spend-his-life-with-only-one-thought/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [A very close friend of mine keeps reminding me that since about the age of 50, I've been saying, 'I'm finished. I haven't got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/a-very-close-friend-of-mine-keeps-reminding-me-that-since-about-the/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [To know nothing about yourself is to be constantly in danger of nothingness, those voids of non-being over which a man walks the tightrope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/to-know-nothing-about-yourself-is-to-be-constantly-in-danger-of/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [My essential identity is that of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-essential-identity-is-that-of-a-writer/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [For you in the West to hear the phrase 'All men are created equal' is to draw a yawn. For us, it's a miracle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/for-you-in-the-west-to-hear-the-phrase-all-men-are-created-equal-is/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [As fascinated as I was by words on paper, it was matched by my fascination with words in people's mouths. The spoken word. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/as-fascinated-as-i-was-by-words-on-paper-it-was-matched-by-my/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) [Explore all 51 Athol Fugard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I quickly discovered is that our so-called new South Africa has as much material for a story-teller as the old one. The landscape hasn't really changed. 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