Food Quote by José Ortega y Gasset
““In the disturbances caused by scarcity of food, the mob goes in search of bread, and the means it employs is generally to wreck the bakeries. This may serve as a symbol of the attitude adopted, on a greater and more complicated scale, by the masses of today towards the civilization by which they are supported … Civilization is not "just here," it is not self-supporting.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Revolt of the Masses,” 1930
Masses, when desperate, attack the foundations that sustain them, showing civilization’s fragility and dependence on the few.
In simple terms: People in crisis attack the systems that support them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and protect societal foundations.
Themes
mass behavior
civilization
dependence
fragility
economics
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
Type
sociopolitical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political unrest
- food shortages
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
social theory
economic scarcity
collective action
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies strengthen resilience?
- What responsibilities do individuals have?
A Different Perspective
Simplifying complex societal dynamics to a single cause can mislead.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
