Dream-state Quote by Christopher Priest
““The dream-state of the Archipelago, which is what we islanders most respond to, and least wish to see changed, seems likely to continue without interference for a long time to come.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe, 1980s
Islanders cling to familiar traditions, resisting change, leading to prolonged stagnation.
In simple terms: People resist change, causing stagnation.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change to avoid stagnation.
Themes
tradition
resistance
stagnation
change
island life
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- community planning
- environmental policy
- cultural preservation
- urban development
Key Concepts
cultural inertia
social dynamics
identity preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of tradition are worth preserving?
- How can change be introduced without loss?
A Different Perspective
Resistance may protect valuable heritage, making change risky.
![“No one [Islanders] trod easily upon the emotions of another where the sea licked everywhere against an endless shoreline. And this was excellent and poor at the same time-excellent because it meant most people took care, poor because it meant an inbreeding of the spirit, too much held in, regret…” quote by David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d68/david-guterson-8456_quote_no-one-islanders-trod-easily-upon-the-em_1613381.jpg)
![“[T]here is a certain kind of child who awakens from a book as from an abyssal sleep, swimming heavily up through layers of consciousness toward a reality that seems less real than the dream-state that has been left behind. I was such a child.” quote by Anne Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4bb/anne-fadiman-7855_books_t-here-is-a-certain-kind-of-child-who-aw_880961.jpg)
