Abstract Quote by Ben H. Winters
“It is really something, the extent to which we allow ourselves to live without thinking of things that we know, in the abstract, are bad, and are going on right now, somewhere far away. We think, "Well, what are you gonna do?" In a way, that little instinct, that "What are you gonna do?" is the most dangerous thing in the world.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford, 2020
We often ignore distant suffering, rationalizing inaction, which makes our complacency dangerous.
In simple terms: Ignoring far‑away problems is risky.
Recognize and act on distant injustices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy making
- community outreach
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What distant issue could you address today?
- How does personal discomfort affect moral choices?
It can be hard to know how to help effectively from afar.