Accepting Quote by Emma Goldman
“A practical scheme, says Oscar Wilde, is either one already in existence, or a scheme that could be carried out under the existing conditions; but it is exactly the existing conditions that one objects to, and any scheme that could accept these conditions is wrong and foolish.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Anarchist Manifesto, 1905
A scheme either copies existing conditions or tries to work within them; both are flawed because they accept the status quo.
In simple terms: Following existing rules is foolish.
Key Takeaway
Question existing systems.
Themes
politics
innovation
critique
Mood
defiant
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy reform
- entrepreneurship
Key Concepts
anarchism
systems theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What can be changed without accepting the status quo?
- Is any reform truly revolutionary?
A Different Perspective
Changing conditions may be impossible.
