--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have on the one hand a desperate need…" description: "\"We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger, sickness, and the dread of war. We have, on the other, the conception of something that might meet it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/c-s-lewis-2-132_conception_we-have-on-the-one-hand-a-desperate-need_1539764.png" --- # We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger… ![“We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger, sickness, and the dread of war. We have, on the other, the conception of something that might meet it: omnicompetent global technocracy. Are not these the ideal opportunity for enslavement? This is how it has entered before; a desperate need (real…” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/c-s-lewis-2-132_conception_we-have-on-the-one-hand-a-desperate-need_1539764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/c-s-lewis-2-132_conception_we-have-on-the-one-hand-a-desperate-need_1539764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/c-s-lewis-2-132_conception_we-have-on-the-one-hand-a-desperate-need_1539764.png) > “We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger, sickness, and the dread of war. We have, on the other, the conception of something that might meet it: omnicompetent global technocracy. Are not these the ideal opportunity for enslavement? This is how it has entered before; a desperate need (real or apparent) in the one party, a power (real or apparent) to relieve it, in the other.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desperate crises invite promises of all‑power solutions, which can become tools of oppression. **In simple terms:** Crises lead to offers of total control, risking enslavement. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind sweeping solutions. Themes politics technology ethics Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - government policy - emergency response - tech regulation Key Concepts power dynamics technocracy human autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent technocratic overreach? - How do we balance urgency with liberty? A Different Perspective Ideal solutions rarely address root causes and can exploit fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Enslavement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enslavement/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [This Congress is out of control and in desperate need of adult supervision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/this-congress-is-out-of-control-and-in-desperate-need-of-adult/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-desperate-need-today-is-not-for-a-greater-number-of-intelligent/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [I want to have my desperate need for personal success shrunk, not enlarged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-rowe/i-want-to-have-my-desperate-need-for-personal-success-shrunk-not/) [Maggie Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-rowe/) > [We are in desperate need of a return to limited, constitutional government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/we-are-in-desperate-need-of-a-return-to-limited-constitutional/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [“At I Am My Brother’s Keeper, there were no dues, no drives, no singles nights. Membership grew the old-fashioned way: a desperate need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/at-i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-there-were-no-dues-no-drives-no-singles/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I was just the youngest in the family, and most in desperate need of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-rhea/i-was-just-the-youngest-in-the-family-and-most-in-desperate-need-of/) [Caroline Rhea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-rhea/) > [“What would you say you've taken away from all this? ... That running away solves nothing? That my desperate need for a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-medlicott/what-would-you-say-you-ve-taken-away-from-all-this-that-running-away/) [Joan Medlicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-medlicott/) > [“I am in desperate need of killing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/i-am-in-desperate-need-of-killing-something/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [Sometimes we find ourselves in desperate need and we look to those of privilege and power. It's then we learn compassion sits inert upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-religion/sometimes-we-find-ourselves-in-desperate-need-and-we-look-to-those-of/) [Bad Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-religion/) > [“You would not believe what skill, power and ability your total intelligence possesses until you are in desperate need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-would-not-believe-what-skill-power-and-ability-your-total-2/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I had a desperate need to be Van Gogh or something. Some tremendous artist. Jack's so successful, what's wrong with me, why isn't this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/i-had-a-desperate-need-to-be-van-gogh-or-something-some-tremendous/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [We are in desperate need of a well-done romantic lesbian comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bennett/we-are-in-desperate-need-of-a-well-done-romantic-lesbian-comedy/) [Jill Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bennett/) > [There is now a desperate need for a London-wide left caucus of those interested in the GLC and local councils so that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/there-is-now-a-desperate-need-for-a-london-wide-left-caucus-of-those/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [When one drops everything to come to aide one in desperate need of support, that's love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-robertson/when-one-drops-everything-to-come-to-aide-one-in-desperate-need-of/) Missy Robertson > [I want to again highlight the desperate need for us to pull together - the world over - to tackle knife crime and teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/i-want-to-again-highlight-the-desperate-need-for-us-to-pull-together/) [Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Conception quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Bring the viewer to your side, include him in your thought. He is not a bystander. You have the power to increase his perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/bring-the-viewer-to-your-side-include-him-in-your-thought-he-is-not-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Our modern conception of the universe is so foreign to what even scientists generally believed a mere century ago that it is a tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/our-modern-conception-of-the-universe-is-so-foreign-to-what-even/) [Lawrence M. 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When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [ \[Joseph\] Stalin closes the exposition of these \[Leon Trotsky\] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of \[Vladimir\] Lenin's conception… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-these-leon-trotsky-ideas-with/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) [Browse all 865 Conception quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have on the one hand a desperate need; hunger, sickness, and the dread of war. 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