--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often take for granted that our lights…" description: "\"We often take for granted that our lights will come on when we flip the light switch, but the reality is that our reliability standards and the current..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg" --- # We often take for granted that our lights will come on… ![“We often take for granted that our lights will come on when we flip the light switch, but the reality is that our reliability standards and the current state of the transmission grid leave us all vulnerable to blackouts.” quote by Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg) > “We often take for granted that our lights will come on when we flip the light switch, but the reality is that our reliability standards and the current state of the transmission grid leave us all vulnerable to blackouts.” [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We assume electricity works flawlessly, but grid vulnerabilities can cause outages. **In simple terms:** Power reliability is often taken for granted. Key Takeaway Plan for potential blackouts. Themes energy policy infrastructure risk awareness Mood cautious concerned Type policy educational When to use this quote - home preparedness - policy planning - public awareness Key Concepts grid resilience system reliability Questions to Reflect On - What steps can individuals take to prepare? - How can policy address grid fragility? A Different Perspective Improving grid reliability is costly and complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blackouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackouts/) [Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flip/) [Granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/granted/) [Leave Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-vulnerable-4024038/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lights Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lights-come-858699/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reliability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reliability/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Transmission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transmission/) [Transmission Grid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transmission-grid-568886/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) [Vulnerable Blackouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable-blackouts-4024037/) ## Related quotes > [Well, the responsibility for maintaining a reliable transmission grid is one that's shared by an awful lot of players who have a role in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-abraham/well-the-responsibility-for-maintaining-a-reliable-transmission-grid/) [Spencer Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-abraham/) > [We cannot leave vulnerable young men open to the exploitation of extremists, both for our own security and their own wellbeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeyah-khan/we-cannot-leave-vulnerable-young-men-open-to-the-exploitation-of/) [Deeyah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deeyah-khan/) > [“Admitting what you want most will leave you vulnerable and exposed. This can be scary until you realize you are also wide-open for incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-kaiser/admitting-what-you-want-most-will-leave-you-vulnerable-and-exposed/) [Shannon Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-kaiser/) > [I turn the music up, I got my records on I shut the world outside until the lights come on. maybe the streets alight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/i-turn-the-music-up-i-got-my-records-on-i-shut-the-world-outside/) [James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/) > [“Nobody's happy. What's happy? Happiness is over when the lights come on”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/nobody-s-happy-what-s-happy-happiness-is-over-when-the-lights-come-on-2/) [Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/) > [“Lights Out" I have come to the borders of sleep, The unfathomable deep Forest where all must lose Their way, however straight, Or winding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/lights-out-i-have-come-to-the-borders-of-sleep-the-unfathomable-deep/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [It's nice, when the lights come up at the end of the movie, to not be like, "What did I just watch?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/it-s-nice-when-the-lights-come-up-at-the-end-of-the-movie-to-not-be/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [The world spins along outside, the sun rises and sets, the streets go dark, the lights come on. The future is happening, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/the-world-spins-along-outside-the-sun-rises-and-sets-the-streets-go/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [Once the big lights come in, you can feel self-conscious. How can you capture the scene without ruining it and freezing people up? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/once-the-big-lights-come-in-you-can-feel-self-conscious-how-can-you/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) > [Another Keisha, nice to meet ya, get the math I'm gone what am I s'posed to do when the club lights come on?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirty-money/another-keisha-nice-to-meet-ya-get-the-math-i-m-gone-what-am-i-s/) [Dirty Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirty-money/) > [The electricity is back on in Baghdad. That is a very climactic moment in any country's liberation, when the lights come back on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/the-electricity-is-back-on-in-baghdad-that-is-a-very-climactic-moment/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“I judge the world by my own lights and I come by my own hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-madsen/i-judge-the-world-by-my-own-lights-and-i-come-by-my-own-hand/) [Catherine Madsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-madsen/) > [When the lights come on inside of you, everyone in the world can see a little better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/when-the-lights-come-on-inside-of-you-everyone-in-the-world-can-see-a/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“The lights come on and my future returns in the glare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-hall/the-lights-come-on-and-my-future-returns-in-the-glare/) [Meredith Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-hall/) > [“He motions to the glue brush. "Can I have some?" I start to grab it so I can pass it to him. He reaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-jones/he-motions-to-the-glue-brush-can-i-have-some-i-start-to-grab-it-so-i/) [Carrie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-jones/) ## More by Richard Burr > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, changed the way we think about security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/the-terror-attacks-of-sept-11-2001-changed-the-way-we-think-about/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Politics isn't fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/politics-isn-t-fun/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [It is critical that we have a comprehensive energy plan to provide affordable and reliable supplies of energy so that our economy will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/it-is-critical-that-we-have-a-comprehensive-energy-plan-to-provide/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [I can't influence or impact where the NRA goes and spends money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-can-t-influence-or-impact-where-the-nra-goes-and-spends-money/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [We must make clear that the United States will not tolerate hostile Russian activities against us or our allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/we-must-make-clear-that-the-united-states-will-not-tolerate-hostile/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [I had the longest judicial vacancy in the history of the United States - on the Eastern District of North Carolina. Not many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-had-the-longest-judicial-vacancy-in-the-history-of-the-united/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [One is only susceptible to lobbying if they're weak and they trust what an individual tells them without verification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/one-is-only-susceptible-to-lobbying-if-they-re-weak-and-they-trust/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Americans were promised that Obamacare would lower their premiums and that they could keep their current plan if they liked it, but that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/americans-were-promised-that-obamacare-would-lower-their-premiums-and/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Repeal of the individual AMT has been a fundamental element of Republican tax reform campaign promises for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/repeal-of-the-individual-amt-has-been-a-fundamental-element-of/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Russia has conducted a coordinated cyberattack on state election systems and hacked critical infrastructure. They have used social media to sow chaos and discord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/russia-has-conducted-a-coordinated-cyberattack-on-state-election/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Although we must change the ways we protect our country, we must also guard against policies that appear attractive but offer little real protection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/although-we-must-change-the-ways-we-protect-our-country-we-must-also/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [How did ISIL grow? It's real simple: social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/how-did-isil-grow-it-s-real-simple-social-media/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Congress must not do something just for the sake of doing something. We must carefully and thoughtfully consider the implications of any action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/congress-must-not-do-something-just-for-the-sake-of-doing-something/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [No one can get to the Right of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/no-one-can-get-to-the-right-of-me/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) [Explore all 42 Richard Burr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) ## More Blackouts quotes > [The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-sky-was-a-sparkling-succession-of-black-diamonds-on-black-velvet/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Blackouts can be fun if approached with the right mindset. You just can't sweat the fact that you've lost a small portion of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kilmer-purcell/blackouts-can-be-fun-if-approached-with-the-right-mindset-you-just/) [Josh Kilmer-Purcell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kilmer-purcell/) > [There was also talk of bringing Al Gore to California to help out, but there was concern that Gray Davis and Al Gore in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-was-also-talk-of-bringing-al-gore-to-california-to-help-out-but/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Neglecting clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and especially nuclear, can result in blackouts, increased power bills, and will take a heavy toll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-todd-whitman/neglecting-clean-energy-sources-such-as-solar-wind-and-especially/) [Christine Todd Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-todd-whitman/) > [I suspect the psychological pressure associated with that crisis caused the first mental blackout I had ever suffered. It contributed to a deterioration in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamisese-mara/i-suspect-the-psychological-pressure-associated-with-that-crisis/) [Kamisese Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamisese-mara/) > [I'm from Downer's Grove, Illinois. We had a blackout there the other day, but fortunately the police made him get back into his car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-m-from-downer-s-grove-illinois-we-had-a-blackout-there-the-other/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [The fewer data needed, the better the information. And an overload of information, that is, anything much beyond what is truly needed, leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-fewer-data-needed-the-better-the-information-and-an-overload-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The L. A. Times is reporting that Britney Spears' album Blackout will be number one on the Billboard charts. Not to toot my horn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/the-l-a-times-is-reporting-that-britney-spears-album-blackout-will-be/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [I eat mostly vegetarian. I love meat, but I think it should be enjoyed on occasion - like cheesecake or blackouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-giosia/i-eat-mostly-vegetarian-i-love-meat-but-i-think-it-should-be-enjoyed/) [Nadia Giosia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-giosia/) > [To read a paper book is another experience: you can do it on a ship, on the branch of a tree, on your bed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/to-read-a-paper-book-is-another-experience-you-can-do-it-on-a-ship-on/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Oh my God! It's a blackout!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/oh-my-god-it-s-a-blackout/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) > [I live in a neighborhood that is so white, they don't have black cars, black cats or blackouts and don't even play Call Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-shawn/i-live-in-a-neighborhood-that-is-so-white-they-don-t-have-black-cars/) [Prince Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-shawn/) > [In Vancouver, in Sydney and in Orange County, we live among fluorescent stores and streets so brightly lit that you can read a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/in-vancouver-in-sydney-and-in-orange-county-we-live-among-fluorescent/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Green New Deal would usher the entire country into a literal energy dark age, and California-style blackouts would become routine nationwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-boebert/the-green-new-deal-would-usher-the-entire-country-into-a-literal/) [Lauren Boebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-boebert/) > [Every time, my syncopation is different, because I can never play the same fill twice. I just can't, never have been able to. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/every-time-my-syncopation-is-different-because-i-can-never-play-the/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) [Browse all 44 Blackouts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackouts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We often take for granted that our lights will come on when we flip the light switch, but the reality is that our reliability standards and the current state of the transmission grid leave us all vulnerable to blackouts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Burr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-lights-will-come-on-when-we-flip/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blackouts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-lights-will-come-on-when-we-flip/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/348/richard-burr-15623_blackouts_we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-light_2885676.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We often take for granted that our lights will come on when we flip the light switch, but the reality is…” — Richard Burr", "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": "Richard Burr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We often take for granted that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-lights-will-come-on-when-we-flip/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/we-often-take-for-granted-that-our-lights-will-come-on-when-we-flip/#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 } } ] } ```