Change things Quote by Jim Paredes
““First World countries may have great infrastructure, material comfort and modernity, but these cannot compare with the way the homeland speaks to a Filipino’s heart. There may be potholes in the street where I live but they ’speak’ to me in a way that a flawless highway in a developed foreign country cannot. I may be upset by the potholes, but the feeling is a familiar one, and it is easier to endure than alienation in a foreign land. The things that upset me about the country ’speak’ to me in that same familiar language. In fact, it is so familiar that my sense of humor can run circles around the very things I complain about. But that is precisely the problem: because these have become too familiar, I am no longer moved by them - at least not enough to be able to change things. Indeed, they have become ‘my’ potholes. Life in the Philippines may be hell at times, but it remains our home.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Talk on Filipino identity, Jim Paredes, 2015
The quote contrasts material comfort abroad with emotional connection to home, suggesting familiar hardships are more bearable than alienation, yet familiarity can breed complacency.
In simple terms: Home comforts outweigh foreign comforts, but familiarity can dull desire for change.
Key Takeaway
Recognize familiar problems and act despite comfort.
Themes
home
identity
comfort
complacency
change
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
critical
Type
personal
social
philosophical
When to use this quote
- returning home
- urban life
- public policy
- community activism
Key Concepts
cultural attachment
emotional resonance
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we stay motivated to improve familiar issues?
- What role does nostalgia play in civic engagement?
A Different Perspective
Familiar pain may reduce urgency to improve conditions.
