Apartheid Quote by Doris Lessing
“We always seem to be surprised by events, especially by catastrophes, but also by wonderful events. Look at 1990, the year that the Soviet Union collapsed and apartheid in South Africa collapsed and the Berlin Wall came down. I don't know anyone who foresaw those events. It seems to me that as a species we are constantly trying to adapt ourselves to the unexpected. In the meantime, we talk as if we are in control, and we're not. This seems to me to be the truth about the twentieth century.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing, 1962
Human history is marked by sudden, unpredictable events that challenge our illusion of control.
In simple terms: History is full of unexpected changes.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and stay adaptable.
Themes
history
uncertainty
control
adaptation
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- political upheaval
- technological breakthroughs
- personal crises
- global pandemics
Key Concepts
Chaos theory
human cognition
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when plans fail?
- What can increase resilience?
A Different Perspective
Predicting rare events is often impossible.
![“We [ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi] went to the meeting in Canada [the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM] and I said to them there that sanctions weren't working; they were just being busted. And it did seem to me that one way that we could bring the apartheid regime down would be if we did mount an…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66c/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi_109260.jpg)
