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Abbreviations Quote by Kurt Vonnegut

“The proper ending for any story about people it seems to me, since life is now a polymer in which the Earth is wrapped so tightly, should be the same abbreviation, which I now write large because I feel like it, which is this one: ETC.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut
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“The proper ending for any story about people it seems to me, since life is now a polymer in which the Earth is wrapped so tightly, should be the same abbreviation, which I now write large because I feel like it, which is this one: ETC.”

Kurt Vonnegut

About This Quote

Source Novel: Cat's Cradle, 1963

The quote suggests that humanity’s story ends with a simple, universal abbreviation, reflecting the tangled, polymer-like complexity of Earth’s existence.

In simple terms: Life’s complexity reduces to a simple ending.

Key Takeaway

Embrace simplicity amid complexity.

Themes

existence complexity humor

Mood

reflective ironic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • political discourse
  • environmental activism
  • literary analysis
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

postmodernism satire environmentalism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does simplicity help us understand complex systems?
  • What does "ETC" symbolize in modern life?
A Different Perspective

The abbreviation may oversimplify deep ecological issues.

3.8 out of 5 (6 ratings)

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