--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Innumerable confusions and a profound…" description: "\"“Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transitions. Our \"Age of Anx..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/marshall-mcluhan-641_anxiety_innumerable-confusions-and-a-profound-fe_503319.png" --- # Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair… ![“Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transitions. Our "Age of Anxiety" is, in great part, the result of trying to do today's job with yesterday's tools—with yesterday's concepts.” quote by Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/marshall-mcluhan-641_anxiety_innumerable-confusions-and-a-profound-fe_503319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/marshall-mcluhan-641_anxiety_innumerable-confusions-and-a-profound-fe_503319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b8/marshall-mcluhan-641_anxiety_innumerable-confusions-and-a-profound-fe_503319.png) > ““Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transitions. Our "Age of Anxiety" is, in great part, the result of trying to do today's job with yesterday's tools—with yesterday's concepts.”” [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rapid change creates confusion and despair when old methods are applied to new problems. **In simple terms:** Old tools cause anxiety in new eras. Key Takeaway Update tools and mindsets to match modern challenges. Themes technology culture anxiety change Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - education - policy making - personal adaptation Key Concepts Media theory systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance tradition with innovation? - What new tools can ease current anxieties? A Different Perspective It may overlook that some traditions retain value despite change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-anxiety-364076/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Confusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusions/) [Confusions Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusions-profound-4280477/) [Cultural Transitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultural-transitions-4280478/) [Technological Cultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technological-cultural-4280479/) ## Related quotes > [All around us are the consequences of the most significant technological, and hence cultural, revolution in generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/all-around-us-are-the-consequences-of-the-most-significant/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Our Age of Anxiety is, in great part, the result of trying to do today's job with yesterday's tools and yesterday's concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/our-age-of-anxiety-is-in-great-part-the-result-of-trying-to-do-today-2/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Our Age of Anxiety is, in great part, the result of trying to do today's jobs with yesterday's tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/our-age-of-anxiety-is-in-great-part-the-result-of-trying-to-do-today/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [One of the few blessings of living in an age of anxiety is that we are forced to become aware of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/one-of-the-few-blessings-of-living-in-an-age-of-anxiety-is-that-we/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Innumerable confusions and a feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/innumerable-confusions-and-a-feeling-of-despair-invariably-emerge-in/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Now is the age of anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/now-is-the-age-of-anxiety/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [This is, i think, very much the Age of Anxiety, the age of the neurosis, because along with so much that weighs on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/this-is-i-think-very-much-the-age-of-anxiety-the-age-of-the-neurosis/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [ ...the reason for \[this age's\] anxiety and unrest is because in one direction, 'truth' increases in scope and quantity - via science and technology… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-reason-for-this-age-s-anxiety-and-unrest-is-because-in-one/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [As a student of American culture, I am willing to argue that the Twist is a valid manifestation of the Age of Anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-fishwick/as-a-student-of-american-culture-i-am-willing-to-argue-that-the-twist/) [Marshall Fishwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-fishwick/) > [One learns in life to keep silent and draw one's own confusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-learns-in-life-to-keep-silent-and-draw-one-s-own-confusions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes it's not always straightforward, but it's not always confusing either. You just have to respect a person's decisions without disrespecting them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temitayo-olami/sometimes-it-s-not-always-straightforward-but-it-s-not-always/) [Temitayo Olami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temitayo-olami/) > [“Boehme makes such leaps, such contradictions, such confusions of thought. It is as though he wishes to vault directly into heaven upon the strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/boehme-makes-such-leaps-such-contradictions-such-confusions-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Eventually everything falls in place..Till then laugh at the confusions and live for the moment...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-runwal/eventually-everything-falls-in-place-till-then-laugh-at-the/) [Vikas Runwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-runwal/) > [I think fiction recues history from its confusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-think-fiction-recues-history-from-its-confusions/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [My best works are erotic displays of mental confusions.. with intrusions of irrelevant information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dumas/my-best-works-are-erotic-displays-of-mental-confusions-with/) [Marlene Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dumas/) ## More by Marshall McLuhan > [Even mud gives the illusion of depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/even-mud-gives-the-illusion-of-depth/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Language always preserves a play or figure/ground relation between experience, and perception and its replay in expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/language-always-preserves-a-play-or-figure-ground-relation-between/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Electronic man has no physical body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/electronic-man-has-no-physical-body/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [With the arrival of electric technology, man has extended, or set outside himself, a live model of the central nervous system itself. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/with-the-arrival-of-electric-technology-man-has-extended-or-set/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“The constant broadcast and reception of ghostly images via radio and television, according to this notion, had weakened the sense, particularly among youth, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-constant-broadcast-and-reception-of-ghostly-images-via-radio-and/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Every innovation scraps its immediate predecessor and retrieves still older figures – it causes floods of antiques or nostalgic art forms and stimulates the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/every-innovation-scraps-its-immediate-predecessor-and-retrieves-still/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The family circle has widened. The worldpool of information fathered by the electric media--movies, Telstar, flight--far surpassesany possible influence mom and dad can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-family-circle-has-widened-the-worldpool-of-information-fathered/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Like primitive, we now live in a global village of our own making, a simultaneous happening. It doesn't necessarily mean harmony and peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/like-primitive-we-now-live-in-a-global-village-of-our-own-making-a/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti-environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/professionalism-is-environmental-amateurism-is-anti-environmental/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The visual power of the phonetic alphabet is the translate other languages into itself is part of its power to invade right hemisphere (oral)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-visual-power-of-the-phonetic-alphabet-is-the-translate-other/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [New media may at first appear as mere codes of transmission for older achievement and established patterns of thought. But nobody could make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/new-media-may-at-first-appear-as-mere-codes-of-transmission-for-older/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Youth instinctively understand the present environment - the electric drama. It lives mythically and in depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/youth-instinctively-understand-the-present-environment-the-electric/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Our motor car is our supreme form of privacy when we are away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/our-motor-car-is-our-supreme-form-of-privacy-when-we-are-away-from/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [The scientist rigorously defends his right to be ignorant of almost everything except his specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-scientist-rigorously-defends-his-right-to-be-ignorant-of-almost/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) [Explore all 433 Marshall McLuhan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transitions. 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