Ambition Quote by Nadine Gordimer
“If people would forget about utopia! When rationalism destroyed heaven and decided to set it up here on earth, that most terrible of all goals entered human ambition. It was clear there'd be no end to what people would be made to suffer for it.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: July's People, 1982
Warns that utopian ambitions, when rationalized, can become oppressive and cause endless suffering.
In simple terms: Utopian goals can become tyrannical.
Key Takeaway
Beware of imposing idealistic visions.
Themes
idealism
power
human suffering
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- policy making
- social movements
- technological utopias
- revolutionary agendas
Key Concepts
political philosophy
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What utopia could become harmful?
- How to balance idealism with realism?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may ignore practical constraints.
