Ballast Quote by George Orwell
“Ignorance and prejudice are the ballast of our ship of state - however, ships without ballast are not seaworthy and cannot sail in the tempests, nor reach a safe harbor.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown political essay, 20th century
Prejudice and ignorance destabilize governance; some ballast (order) is needed for a state to navigate crises.
In simple terms: Ignorance weakens government; some structure is needed.
Balance knowledge with order.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- public policy formation
- crisis management
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we distinguish necessary order from oppressive control?
- What risks arise when we remove all constraints?
Too much ballast can stifle freedom and innovation.