Centre Quote by John Ralston Saul
“In the humanist ideal, the mainstream is where interesting debate, the generating of new ideas and creativity take place. In rational society this mainstream is considered uncontrollable and is therefore made marginal. The centre ground is occupied instead by structures and courtiers.”
About This Quote
The quote critiques how rational societies suppress the vibrant, idea-generating mainstream, relegating it to the margins while elevating bureaucratic structures to the centre.
In simple terms: Mainstream creativity is marginalized by rationalist institutions.
Key Takeaway
Creative discourse thrives outside formal structures.
Themes
creativity
societal structure
rationalism
marginalization
power dynamics
Mood
critical
reflective
provocative
Type
philosophical
political
cultural
When to use this quote
- academic conferences
- corporate boardrooms
- government policy debates
- artistic collectives
- grassroots movements
Key Concepts
mainstream vs. centre
institutional control
innovation ecosystems
Practical Applications
- designing inclusive innovation policies
- restructuring organizational hierarchies
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions balance order with creative freedom?
- What mechanisms can protect the mainstream from marginalization?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that rational frameworks are necessary to channel creativity productively, preventing chaos.
![“[The Utopia of Rules] should offer a challenge to us all. Should we just accept this bureaucracy as inevitable? Or is there a way to get rid of all those hours spent listening to bad call-centre music? Do policemen, academics, teachers and doctors really need to spend half their time filling in…” quote by Gillian Tett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/223/gillian-tett-57286_accepting_the-utopia-of-rules-should-offer-a-chall_39418.jpg)
