Bridges Quote by B. C. Forbes
“Whenever calamity howlers shake their heads and impress upon you that this, that, and the next dire catastrophe is to befall this nation or the nations of the world-such as, for example, that exhaustion of the world's oil supply will bring all transportation and machinery to a standstill through lack of lubrication, or that exhaustion of the earth's stores of coal will make life unlivable in these cold climates-just smile and reply that the worst troubles of all are those that never happen [and] that you prefer not to cross shaky bridges until you come to them…”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Futility of Catastrophic Forecasting, 2020
Exaggerated predictions of disaster distract from present action; focus on realistic solutions.
In simple terms: Don’t fear imagined catastrophes.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize practical action.
Themes
fear
catastrophe
media
action
Mood
anxious
critical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- environmental planning
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
critical thinking
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- What real risks deserve attention?
- How can you balance caution with optimism?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on worst‑case scenarios can cause paralysis.
