Double vision Quote by Thomas Pynchon
““If there is any political moral to be found in this world,” Stencil once wrote in his journal, “it is that we carry on the business of this century with an intolerable double vision. Right and Left; the hothouse and the street. The Right can only live and work hermetically, in the hothouses of the past, while outside the Left prosecute their affairs in the streets by manipulated mob violence. And cannot live but in the dreamscape of the future. “What of the real present, the men-of-no-politics, the once-respectable Golden Mean? Obsolete; in any case, lost sight of. In a West of such extremes we can expect, at the very least, a highly ‘alienated’ populace within not many more years.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon, 1973
The quote critiques polarized politics, suggesting both extremes ignore the present, leading to alienation.
In simple terms: Extremes ignore the present, causing alienation.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance beyond extremes.
Themes
politics
polarization
alienation
society
balance
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- community building
- policy analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
modernism
social critique
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster middle ground?
- What role does the “Golden Mean” play today?
A Different Perspective
Extremes may also offer necessary tension for change.
