Economic crisis Quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti
““Society, in which we all live, is corrupt, immoral, aggressive, destructive. This society has been going on in primitive or modified form for thousands of years upon thousands of years, but it is the same pattern being repeated. These are all facts, not opinion or judgment. Facing this enormous crisis, one asks not only what one is to do but also who is responsible, who has brought the chaos, the confusion, the utter misery of humanity. Is the economic crisis, the social crisis, the crisis of war, the building of enormous armaments, the appalling waste, outside of us? Inwardly, psychologically, we are also very confused; there is constant conflict, struggle, pain, anxiety. We are together taking a journey into the whole structure that mankind has created, the disorder that human beings have brought about in this world. There is misery, chaos, confusion outwardly in society; and also inwardly, psychologically, in the psyche, the consciousness, there are pain and struggles. What are you going to do about all this? Turn to leaders, better politicians? This one isn’t good, but the next one will be better; and the next one still better. We keep this game going. We have looked to various so-called spiritual leaders, the whole hierarchy of the Christian world. They are as confused, as uncertain, as we are. If you turn to the psychologists or the psychotherapists, they are confused like you and me. And there are all the ideologies: communist ideologies, Marxist ideologies, philosophical ideologies, the ideologies of the Hindus and the ideologies of those people who have brought Hinduism here, and you have your own ideologies. The whole world is fragmented, broken up, as we are broken up, driven by various urges, reactions, each one wanting to be important, each one acting in his own self-interest. This is actually what is going on in the world, wherever you go.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture, 1970s, unknown venue
The quote describes humanity’s pervasive moral and structural decay, blaming both external systems and internal psychological confusion, and questions reliance on leaders or ideologies for solutions.
In simple terms: Society is broken and people are confused, both outwardly and inwardly.
Recognize personal responsibility beyond external authority.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political activism
- personal therapy
- community building
- education reform
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal actions can you take to address societal decay?
- How can we balance inner work with external change?
It may overlook the potential for collective action and systemic change beyond individual introspection.