Tunnel vision Quote by Tom Robbins
““When a good idea is run through the filters and compressors of ordinary tunnel vision,it not only comes out reduced in scale and value but in it's new dogmatic configuration produces effects the opposite of those for which it originally intended. That is how the loving ideas of Jesus Christ became the sinister cliches of Christianity. That is why virtually every revolution in history has failed; the oppressed, as soon as they seize power, turn into the oppressors, resorting to totalitarian tactics to "protect the revolution." That is why minorities seeking the abolition of prejudice become intolerant , minorities seeking peace become militant, minorities seeking equality become self-righteous, and minorities seeking liberation become hostile (a tight asshole being the first symptom of self-repression).””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Half Asleep in a Dark Leather Chair, Tom Robbins, 2004
Ideas filtered by narrow perspectives become distorted, often turning original love into oppressive dogma; revolutions tend to repeat oppression.
In simple terms: Narrow views warp ideas, leading to oppression.
Key Takeaway
Guard against dogmatic thinking.
Themes
power
dogma
revolution
corruption
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political movements
- social reforms
- ideological shifts
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
political theory
psychology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies preserve original ideals?
- What safeguards prevent power from corrupting revolutions?
A Different Perspective
Complex ideas may be oversimplified.
![“Is a Can Opener a Can Opener . . . ? As we explain in The Shaping of Things to Come,[157] one of the “trick questions” we use to get group discussion going around the idea of purpose is, “Is a can opener a can opener if it can’t open cans anymore?” This usually initiates a lively discussion around…” quote by Michael Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1b7/michael-frost-32034_grace-and-love_is-a-can-opener-a-can-opener-as-we-expla_446953.jpg)
