--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In social affairs, I'm an optimist. I…" description: "\"In social affairs, I'm an optimist. I really do believe that our military- industrial civilization will soon collapse.\" — Edward Abbey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/edward-abbey-254_affair_in-social-affairs-i-m-an-optimist-i-real_850293.png" --- # In social affairs, I'm an optimist. I really do believe… ![“In social affairs, I'm an optimist. I really do believe that our military- industrial civilization will soon collapse.” quote by Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/edward-abbey-254_affair_in-social-affairs-i-m-an-optimist-i-real_850293.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/edward-abbey-254_affair_in-social-affairs-i-m-an-optimist-i-real_850293.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/edward-abbey-254_affair_in-social-affairs-i-m-an-optimist-i-real_850293.png) > “In social affairs, I'm an optimist. I really do believe that our military- industrial civilization will soon collapse.” [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author expresses optimism that the current militarized industrial system is unsustainable and will eventually fall. **In simple terms:** He believes the current system will collapse. Key Takeaway Recognize the fragility of industrial militarism. Themes environment politics optimism Mood cautious hopeful Type political environmental When to use this quote - political activism - environmental policy - future planning - academic debate Key Concepts systems theory collapse theory Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate systemic collapse? - How can we prepare for such a transition? A Different Perspective Optimism may underestimate resilience of entrenched powers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Collapse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collapse/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [The presently existing global financial and monetary system will disintegrate during the near term. The collapse might occur this spring, or summer, or next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-larouche/the-presently-existing-global-financial-and-monetary-system-will/) [Lyndon LaRouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-larouche/) > [“People who are too optimistic seem annoying. This is an unfortunate misinterpretation of what an optimist really is. 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I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We can't have a government that will collapse in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/we-can-t-have-a-government-that-will-collapse-in-three-months/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) ## More by Edward Abbey > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Apuleius married a rich widow, then wrote \_The Golden Ass\_.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/apuleius-married-a-rich-widow-then-wrote-the-golden-ass/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Except for the scale of the operation, there was nothing unusual about Hitler's massacre of the Jews. 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