--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The twenty-first century is a key century…" description: "\"“The twenty-first century is a key century for us on this planet. Either we make a world, where all seven billion people have a fair chance in this cen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/eddie-izzard-1732_building-walls_the-twenty-first-century-is-a-key-centur_1244550.jpg" --- # The twenty-first century is a key century for us on this… ![“The twenty-first century is a key century for us on this planet. Either we make a world, where all seven billion people have a fair chance in this century - or forget it. If we can't do this, I don't think we are going to make it as a species. Despair is the fuel of terrorism, and hope is the fuel…” quote by Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/eddie-izzard-1732_building-walls_the-twenty-first-century-is-a-key-centur_1244550.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/eddie-izzard-1732_building-walls_the-twenty-first-century-is-a-key-centur_1244550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d3/eddie-izzard-1732_building-walls_the-twenty-first-century-is-a-key-centur_1244550.jpg) > ““The twenty-first century is a key century for us on this planet. Either we make a world, where all seven billion people have a fair chance in this century - or forget it. If we can't do this, I don't think we are going to make it as a species. Despair is the fuel of terrorism, and hope is the fuel of civilization, so we have to put more hope into the world than despair. Hatred and separation and building walls is not the way to progress. Going backward is not the way to go forward.”” [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calls for global equity and hope, warning that despair fuels terrorism while hope drives civilization. **In simple terms:** Hope vs. despair. Key Takeaway Choose hope, act for equity. Themes social justice hope global equity Mood inspirational urgent Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community building - education reform Key Concepts humanism terrorism civilization Questions to Reflect On - What concrete steps can increase hope globally? - How to address systemic inequality? A Different Perspective Hope alone may not solve structural issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-walls/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ## Related quotes > [“Despair is the fuel of terrorism, and hope is the fuel of civilization, so we have to put more hope into the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/despair-is-the-fuel-of-terrorism-and-hope-is-the-fuel-of-civilization-2/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [If you are blessed with great fortunes. . . you may love your fate. But your fate never guarantees the security of those great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-blessed-with-great-fortunes-you-may-love-your-fate-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Grief and pain fills my heart with darkness,follewed by despair and hatred within my veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-bui/grief-and-pain-fills-my-heart-with-darkness-follewed-by-despair-and/) [Jay Bui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-bui/) > [“Funny how even a grain of hope can manage to eclipse a whole world of despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-tatlock/funny-how-even-a-grain-of-hope-can-manage-to-eclipse-a-whole-world-of/) [Ann Tatlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-tatlock/) > [I turned to speak to God About the world's despair But to make bad matters worse I found God wasn't there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/i-turned-to-speak-to-god-about-the-world-s-despair-but-to-make-bad/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“It's despair at the lack of (I'm cheating, I didn't say all these things - but I'm going to write what I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/it-s-despair-at-the-lack-of-i-m-cheating-i-didn-t-say-all-these/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [“If it were evenly distributed," said Rodman, "the example of justice in the world might lead at last to a sane world policy. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-it-were-evenly-distributed-said-rodman-the-example-of-justice-in/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [When we think of nothing our mind and heart are relaxed. But when we get hooked into a world of despair we're being drowned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/when-we-think-of-nothing-our-mind-and-heart-are-relaxed-but-when-we/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“It's despair that so few of us care. It's despair that there's so much brutality and callousness in the world. It's despair that perfectly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/it-s-despair-that-so-few-of-us-care-it-s-despair-that-there-s-so-much/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pain-or-damage-don-t-end-the-world-or-despair-or-fucking-beatings-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Enlightenment is the only real antidote to the world's despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/enlightenment-is-the-only-real-antidote-to-the-world-s-despair/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [For many in our high-paced world, despair is not a moment; it is a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/for-many-in-our-high-paced-world-despair-is-not-a-moment-it-is-a-way/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [It's despair at the lack of feeling, of love, of reason in the world. It's despair that anyone can even contemplate the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/it-s-despair-at-the-lack-of-feeling-of-love-of-reason-in-the-world-it/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [For years I was so busy building walls I did not see I was imprisoning myself behind them, and did not recognize this pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-l-jampolsky/for-years-i-was-so-busy-building-walls-i-did-not-see-i-was/) [Lee L Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-l-jampolsky/) > [“He spent so long building walls to protect his privacy that I think he forgot to build a door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenner/he-spent-so-long-building-walls-to-protect-his-privacy-that-i-think/) [J. Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenner/) ## More by Eddie Izzard > [When I first came out, I thought, I want to walk like a real woman, I don't want to do mincing steps. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/when-i-first-came-out-i-thought-i-want-to-walk-like-a-real-woman-i/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“You know, I don't believe that religions are religions. No, I believe they are philosophies with some good ideas and some fuckin' weird ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-know-i-don-t-believe-that-religions-are-religions-no-i-believe/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [If you've never seen an elephant ski, then you've never been on acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-ve-never-seen-an-elephant-ski-then-you-ve-never-been-on-acid/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. Our life's battle is to appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-gods-and-devils-are-within-us-it-s/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“If you are an LGBT+ person and you come out, you have to go through your knight’s quest to create ground for yourself, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-are-an-lgbt-person-and-you-come-out-you-have-to-go-through/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [America is the new Roman Empire. Remember what happened to Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/america-is-the-new-roman-empire-remember-what-happened-to-rome/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I wanna live 'til I die, no more, no less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-wanna-live-til-i-die-no-more-no-less/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I try to just talk about human stories and what I think about religion or teapots or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-try-to-just-talk-about-human-stories-and-what-i-think-about/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [This is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard flight...one, from...here to there. We'll be cruising at a height of ten feet, going up to twelve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/this-is-your-captain-speaking-welcome-aboard-flight-one-from-here-to/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [You have the American dream! The dream is to be born in a gutter and grow up, and then get all the money in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-have-the-american-dream-the-dream-is-to-be-born-in-a-gutter-and/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [Because we all know one of the main factors of war is the element of surprise. And what could be more surprising than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/because-we-all-know-one-of-the-main-factors-of-war-is-the-element-of/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [We have two hundred languages in Europe. Two hundred languages! Count them! I know you won't!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/we-have-two-hundred-languages-in-europe-two-hundred-languages-count/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I don't believe that competitions are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-that-competitions-are-important/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“Have you got a flag?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/have-you-got-a-flag/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [Cause if you're a transvestite, you're actually a male tomboy, that's where the sexuality is. Yeah, it's not drag queen, no; gay men have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/cause-if-you-re-a-transvestite-you-re-actually-a-male-tomboy-that-s/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) [Explore all 210 Eddie Izzard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) ## More Building walls quotes > [“He spent so long building walls to protect his privacy that I think he forgot to build a door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenner/he-spent-so-long-building-walls-to-protect-his-privacy-that-i-think/) [J. Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenner/) > [For years I was so busy building walls I did not see I was imprisoning myself behind them, and did not recognize this pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-l-jampolsky/for-years-i-was-so-busy-building-walls-i-did-not-see-i-was/) [Lee L Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-l-jampolsky/) > [In an atmosphere of uniform density the most distant things seen through it, such as the mountains, in consequence of the great quantity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/in-an-atmosphere-of-uniform-density-the-most-distant-things-seen/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [We have to remember, when we forgive we're not doing it just for the other person, we're doing it for our own good. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/we-have-to-remember-when-we-forgive-we-re-not-doing-it-just-for-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/a-person-who-thinks-only-about-building-walls-wherever-they-may-be/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“These times are hard, but I won't walk away jaded, darker, different. I feel. I cry to heal. If you saw me in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/these-times-are-hard-but-i-won-t-walk-away-jaded-darker-different-i/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [“Everything I want to say and everything I've wished to say begins to take shape, falling to the floor and scrambling upright. Paragraphs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/everything-i-want-to-say-and-everything-i-ve-wished-to-say-begins-to/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Every job is important because each one represents an American's livelihood and ability to raise a family. Yet spending our time building walls around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/every-job-is-important-because-each-one-represents-an-american-s/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [We are not going to build a pressure in Mexico. We're not building walls to retain our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/we-are-not-going-to-build-a-pressure-in-mexico-we-re-not-building/) [Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/) > [We have to Build Bridges of Peace Instead of building Walls of Wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/we-have-to-build-bridges-of-peace-instead-of-building-walls-of-wars/) [Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/) > [It's no surprise that whether by blocking visas or building walls, there are parts of the country desperate to hang on to a vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/it-s-no-surprise-that-whether-by-blocking-visas-or-building-walls/) [Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/) > [What I do is the opposite of building walls. I build bridges. A bridge is something that connects instead of separating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/what-i-do-is-the-opposite-of-building-walls-i-build-bridges-a-bridge/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [We need to maybe think a little less about the science of building walls and that waste of time and energy and start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/we-need-to-maybe-think-a-little-less-about-the-science-of-building/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Be careful when building walls to protect yourself. Those same walls may cage you in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-when-building-walls-to-protect-yourself-those-same-walls/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Instead of building walls, we should be building bridges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/instead-of-building-walls-we-should-be-building-bridges/) [Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/) [Browse all 56 Building walls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-walls/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The twenty-first century is a key century for us on this planet. Either we make a world, where all seven billion people have a fair chance in this century - or forget it. If we can't do this, I don't think we are going to make it as a species. Despair is the fuel of terrorism, and hope is the fuel of civilization, so we have to put more hope into the world than despair. 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