--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Through cowardice and complacency, we…" description: "\"Through cowardice and complacency, we have stood by while the ordinary dream of owning a home has turned into a nightmare.\" — Nick Boles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg" --- # Through cowardice and complacency, we have stood by while… ![“Through cowardice and complacency, we have stood by while the ordinary dream of owning a home has turned into a nightmare.” quote by Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg) > “Through cowardice and complacency, we have stood by while the ordinary dream of owning a home has turned into a nightmare.” [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complacency and fear have turned homeownership dreams into hardships for many. **In simple terms:** Fear blocks progress. Key Takeaway Act against complacency. Themes housing fear complacency dreams Mood concerned analytical Type political social When to use this quote - home buying - political debate - community planning Key Concepts economic policy social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What policies can revive homeownership? - How to overcome fear of change? A Different Perspective Solutions are complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Owning a home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owning-a-home/) ## Related quotes > [The party life that had once given me so much confidence and comfort had turned into a nightmare where I never felt more alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-grande/the-party-life-that-had-once-given-me-so-much-confidence-and-comfort/) [Frankie Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-grande/) > [Taylor Swift's love story turned into my nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia/taylor-swift-s-love-story-turned-into-my-nightmare/) [Felicia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia/) > [“Did your parents ever tell you a sweet bedtime story that your busy little brain turned into a nightmare the instant you fell asleep?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-jackson/did-your-parents-ever-tell-you-a-sweet-bedtime-story-that-your-busy/) Deborah Jackson > [You were my dream come true, but then you turned into a nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-were-my-dream-come-true-but-then-you-turned-into-a-nightmare/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [The fairytale has turned into a nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-thorpe/the-fairytale-has-turned-into-a-nightmare/) [Ian Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-thorpe/) > [From long familiarity, we know what honor is. It is what enables the individual to do right in the face of complacency and cowardice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/from-long-familiarity-we-know-what-honor-is-it-is-what-enables-the/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“We have become a nation incapable of living within our means. We seem incapable of accepting the reality that owning a home is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/we-have-become-a-nation-incapable-of-living-within-our-means-we-seem/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Every day, families in the United States face the stark choice between a roof over their heads and food on the table. Buying health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/every-day-families-in-the-united-states-face-the-stark-choice-between/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [Potential home buyers have a two-step decision process. First, they determine whether they can afford to make a purchase - does their income safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/potential-home-buyers-have-a-two-step-decision-process-first-they/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I've never really dreamed of owning a home. I don't think you go into the arts and also dream of owning a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-seimetz/i-ve-never-really-dreamed-of-owning-a-home-i-don-t-think-you-go-into/) [Amy Seimetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-seimetz/) > [The house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/the-house-protects-the-dreamer-the-house-allows-one-to-dream-in-peace/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [I learned early on what debt means, how vulnerable it makes people, what the security of owning a home means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-learned-early-on-what-debt-means-how-vulnerable-it-makes-people/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [For many of us, owning a home signaled a passage into adulthood that coincided with the start of a career and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/for-many-of-us-owning-a-home-signaled-a-passage-into-adulthood-that/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/owning-a-home-is-a-keystone-of-wealth-both-financial-affluence-and/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [There is something permanent, and something extremely profound, in owning a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-guinn/there-is-something-permanent-and-something-extremely-profound-in/) [Kenny Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-guinn/) ## More by Nick Boles > [We Brits are law abiding folk. We pride ourselves on our natural tendency to form an orderly queue rather than a scrum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/we-brits-are-law-abiding-folk-we-pride-ourselves-on-our-natural/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [As his former chief of staff, I can't imagine Boris Johnson felt very comfortable telling the British people to 'stay at home.' But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/as-his-former-chief-of-staff-i-can-t-imagine-boris-johnson-felt-very/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [I was elected to Parliament as a Conservative three times, most recently in 2017.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/i-was-elected-to-parliament-as-a-conservative-three-times-most/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Like most Sun readers I am intensely proud of being English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/like-most-sun-readers-i-am-intensely-proud-of-being-english/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [We should assert our rights under the EEA Treaty to remain a member after Brexit and apply to join EFTA as an associate member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/we-should-assert-our-rights-under-the-eea-treaty-to-remain-a-member/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [We need to be vocal in our support of female colleagues who are pressing for a dramatic shift in the culture of Parliament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/we-need-to-be-vocal-in-our-support-of-female-colleagues-who-are/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Boris Johnson has turned the party of Disraeli and Churchill into a vehicle for shrill English nationalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/boris-johnson-has-turned-the-party-of-disraeli-and-churchill-into-a/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [As chairman of the housing committee, I had to help the council wrestle with the pressure on social housing from asylum seekers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/as-chairman-of-the-housing-committee-i-had-to-help-the-council/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [As Mayor of London Johnson could get away with amateur bumbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/as-mayor-of-london-johnson-could-get-away-with-amateur-bumbling/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [The Covid-19 pandemic is what insurers call an act of God. It has hit us like an asteroid strike and unleashed an economic downturn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/the-covid-19-pandemic-is-what-insurers-call-an-act-of-god-it-has-hit/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [I pay tribute to Theresa May for her sense of duty and her resilience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/i-pay-tribute-to-theresa-may-for-her-sense-of-duty-and-her-resilience/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Of course Margaret Thatcher was a remarkable and strong-willed figure but she was also a pragmatist, just as ready to upset her right wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/of-course-margaret-thatcher-was-a-remarkable-and-strong-willed-figure/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Norway Plus offers immediate advantages. We would be in the single market but outside the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. We would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/norway-plus-offers-immediate-advantages-we-would-be-in-the-single/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng possess a level of intellectual self-confidence usually found among undergraduates. They always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/liz-truss-and-kwasi-kwarteng-possess-a-level-of-intellectual-self/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Thatcherites and other disciples of economic orthodoxy will argue that monetary financing is reckless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/thatcherites-and-other-disciples-of-economic-orthodoxy-will-argue/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) [Explore all 98 Nick Boles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) ## More Complacency quotes > [“Complacency delivered us into the hands of evil greedy men like Cheney.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/complacency-delivered-us-into-the-hands-of-evil-greedy-men-like-cheney/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Don't let your success of today lay you into complacency for tomorrow. For that is the worst form of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/don-t-let-your-success-of-today-lay-you-into-complacency-for-tomorrow/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [We are the best the show, others weak hold. Just to get complacency / which does not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/we-are-the-best-the-show-others-weak-hold-just-to-get-complacency/) Mak\_786 > [“It’s a fallacy that this generation does not know how to love as its predecessor did. Truth of the matter is, modern love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/it-s-a-fallacy-that-this-generation-does-not-know-how-to-love-as-its/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“To move forward, one need only take the first step,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-neill/to-move-forward-one-need-only-take-the-first-step/) Chase Neill > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Don't let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth - don't let that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/don-t-let-your-special-character-and-values-the-secret-that-you-know/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Complacency is a creeping danger. Unless wisdom sets in, you will never come to your senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jey-lopez/complacency-is-a-creeping-danger-unless-wisdom-sets-in-you-will-never/) [Jey Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jey-lopez/) > [I have spoken about what we can do as citizens, what we can do as a responsive citizenry, and this is where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-have-spoken-about-what-we-can-do-as-citizens-what-we-can-do-as-a/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“Listen to Mr. Complacency long enough and he'll convince you that what you really, really need is a nap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-and-brett-harris/listen-to-mr-complacency-long-enough-and-he-ll-convince-you-that-what/) Alex and Brett Harris > [I always say, complacency is the kiss of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-redstone/i-always-say-complacency-is-the-kiss-of-death/) [Shari Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-redstone/) [Browse all 437 Complacency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Through cowardice and complacency, we have stood by while the ordinary dream of owning a home has turned into a nightmare.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nick Boles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-have-stood-by-while-the-ordinary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complacency" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-have-stood-by-while-the-ordinary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/nick-boles-6553_complacency_through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-hav_2737525.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Through cowardice and complacency, we have stood by while the ordinary dream of owning a home has turned…” — Nick Boles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nick Boles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Through cowardice and complacency, we have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-have-stood-by-while-the-ordinary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/through-cowardice-and-complacency-we-have-stood-by-while-the-ordinary/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```