--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can you ever \"solve\" disease…" description: "\"“Can you ever \"solve\" disease, unemployment, war, or any other societal herpes? Hell no. All you can hope for is to make them manageable enough to allo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/max-brooks-2735_cynicism_can-you-ever-solve-disease-unemployment_2294800.jpg" --- # Can you ever "solve" disease, unemployment, war, or any… ![“Can you ever "solve" disease, unemployment, war, or any other societal herpes? Hell no. All you can hope for is to make them manageable enough to allow people to get on with their lives. That's not cynicism, that's maturity.” quote by Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/max-brooks-2735_cynicism_can-you-ever-solve-disease-unemployment_2294800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/max-brooks-2735_cynicism_can-you-ever-solve-disease-unemployment_2294800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/max-brooks-2735_cynicism_can-you-ever-solve-disease-unemployment_2294800.jpg) > ““Can you ever "solve" disease, unemployment, war, or any other societal herpes? Hell no. All you can hope for is to make them manageable enough to allow people to get on with their lives. That's not cynicism, that's maturity.”” [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal problems are too complex to eliminate; aim to control them so life can continue. **In simple terms:** Can't fully solve big issues, just manage them. Key Takeaway Focus on manageable improvements. Themes society realism politics Mood cynical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - public health planning - economic reform - conflict resolution - social services - personal coping Key Concepts complex systems policy human behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance control with striving for better? - What limits our ability to fully solve societal problems? A Different Perspective Managing issues may overlook root causes and deeper change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Can you ever “solve” poverty? Can you ever “solve” crime? Can you ever “solve” disease, unemployment, war, or any other societal herpes? Hell no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/can-you-ever-solve-poverty-can-you-ever-solve-crime-can-you-ever/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“Oh C'mon. Can you ever "solve" poverty? Can you ever "solve" crime? Can you ever "solve" disease, unemployment, war or any other societal herpes?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/oh-c-mon-can-you-ever-solve-poverty-can-you-ever-solve-crime-can-you-2/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“Oh c'mon. Can you ever "solve" poverty? Can you ever "solve" crime? Can you ever ""solve" disease, unemployment, war, or any other societal herpes?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/oh-c-mon-can-you-ever-solve-poverty-can-you-ever-solve-crime-can-you/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [...for the contingent out there who sneer at heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman and Captain America, those icons who still, at their core,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rucka/for-the-contingent-out-there-who-sneer-at-heroes-like-superman-and/) [Greg Rucka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rucka/) > [Los Angeles is like San Diego's older, uglier sister that has herpes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/los-angeles-is-like-san-diego-s-older-uglier-sister-that-has-herpes/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [The thing about glitter is if you get it on you, be prepared to have it on you forever. Because glitter doesn't go away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/the-thing-about-glitter-is-if-you-get-it-on-you-be-prepared-to-have/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [It is important to go into work you would like to do. Then it doesn't seem like work. You sometimes feel it's almost too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/it-is-important-to-go-into-work-you-would-like-to-do-then-it-doesn-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [You can't assume the best about people. If I get a girl home and she takes her pants off, and it looks like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/you-can-t-assume-the-best-about-people-if-i-get-a-girl-home-and-she/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-feel-the-same-way-about-disco-as-i-do-about-herpes/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“He’s like a bad case of herpes. You think he’s gone and then he shows up again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-johnson/he-s-like-a-bad-case-of-herpes-you-think-he-s-gone-and-then-he-shows/) [Missy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-johnson/) > [Participation trophies are the soul herpes of a generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/participation-trophies-are-the-soul-herpes-of-a-generation/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“I could have herpes, you know,” she says. I grin at her and wink. “You somehow just made herpes sound appealing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-could-have-herpes-you-know-she-says-i-grin-at-her-and-wink-you/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [If you love something set it free, but don't be surprised if it comes back with herpes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/if-you-love-something-set-it-free-but-don-t-be-surprised-if-it-comes/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I lean forward and grab the bowl of ice cream she didn't finish and pull it to my, then take a bite. She watches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-lean-forward-and-grab-the-bowl-of-ice-cream-she-didn-t-finish-and/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More by Max Brooks > [When I believe in my ability to do something, there is no such word as no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/when-i-believe-in-my-ability-to-do-something-there-is-no-such-word-as/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-universe/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I think the general anxiety of the 1960s - '70s spawned our interest in the living dead. When people worry about the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-think-the-general-anxiety-of-the-1960s-70s-spawned-our-interest-in/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Sometimes you find your path, sometimes it finds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/sometimes-you-find-your-path-sometimes-it-finds-you/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I wanted to serve. It was Desert Storm. I thought, 'I was a rich kid, and America's been good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-wanted-to-serve-it-was-desert-storm-i-thought-i-was-a-rich-kid-and/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [ \[...\]you don’t have to be Sun freakin Tzu to know that real fighting isn’t about killing or even hurting the other guy, it’s about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-don-t-have-to-be-sun-freakin-tzu-to-know-that-real-fighting-isn-t/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“rank warehouses among your most attractive hideouts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/rank-warehouses-among-your-most-attractive-hideouts/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I think Americans are at our best when we recover from a crisis. We've suffered some blows that other countries would have never recovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-think-americans-are-at-our-best-when-we-recover-from-a-crisis-we-ve/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“The living dead had taken more from us than land and loved ones. They'd robbed us of our confidence as the planet's dominant life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/the-living-dead-had-taken-more-from-us-than-land-and-loved-ones-they/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“PARNELL AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, TENNESSEE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/parnell-air-national-guard-base-tennessee/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Often, a school is your best bet-perhaps not for education but certainly for protection from an undead attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/often-a-school-is-your-best-bet-perhaps-not-for-education-but/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Any survival guide will tell you, don't buy a pair of combat boots before any disaster. They'll tear your feet up. Or water -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/any-survival-guide-will-tell-you-don-t-buy-a-pair-of-combat-boots/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [When I read Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns', I think it's a wonderful record of the Reagan era. I think it's amazing. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/when-i-read-frank-miller-s-the-dark-knight-returns-i-think-it-s-a/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [The dead walk among us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/the-dead-walk-among-us/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“What we did, what every president since Washington has done, was provide a measured, appropriate response, in direct relation to a realistic threat assessment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/what-we-did-what-every-president-since-washington-has-done-was/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) [Explore all 142 Max Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) ## More Cynicism quotes > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/) Noelle Oxenhandler > [There's a distinct unease about Americans when they are outside the United States. I can't say quite what it is, but they are easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/there-s-a-distinct-unease-about-americans-when-they-are-outside-the/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I think growing up in Indiana prepares anyone for a life in comedy. I do feel like there is a certain kind of self-effacing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-growing-up-in-indiana-prepares-anyone-for-a-life-in-comedy-i/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“That's what I've never been able to get about religion: that charmless combination of altruism and insanity. Give me a cynical, self-interested bastard any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/that-s-what-i-ve-never-been-able-to-get-about-religion-that-charmless/) [Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/) > [We will need to work hard to break the cynicism, talk straight and rebuild trust in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/we-will-need-to-work-hard-to-break-the-cynicism-talk-straight-and/) [Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“The fucking world is running out of gas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-fucking-world-is-running-out-of-gas/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“In a fractured age, when cynicism is god, here is a possible heresy: we live by stories, we also live in them. One way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/in-a-fractured-age-when-cynicism-is-god-here-is-a-possible-heresy-we/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [Only the broken-hearted idealist can become a cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-clifton/only-the-broken-hearted-idealist-can-become-a-cynic/) Mark Clifton > [What's important is how we use our time on this earth, not how conspicuously we give our money away. What's important is the energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/what-s-important-is-how-we-use-our-time-on-this-earth-not-how/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) [Browse all 890 Cynicism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Can you ever \"solve\" disease, unemployment, war, or any other societal herpes? Hell no. All you can hope for is to make them manageable enough to allow people to get on with their lives. 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