Ability Quote by Tony Judt
“What has gone catastrophically wrong in England and the States is that for 30 years we've lost the ability to talk about the state in positive terms. We've raised a generation or two of young people who don't think to ask, 'What can the state do that is good?'”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on State and Society, 2005
Societies have lost faith in positive state functions, leading to cynicism and disengagement.
In simple terms: People forget what government can do well.
Key Takeaway
Re‑evaluate state’s positive roles.
Themes
civic engagement
political discourse
trust
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- community meetings
- policy debates
- civic education
Key Concepts
public policy
social capital
Questions to Reflect On
- What benefits of the state are ignored?
- How can we foster constructive dialogue?
A Different Perspective
Optimism can overlook state failures.
![“Lieux de memoire . . . 'exist because there are no longer any milieux de memoire , settings in which memory is a real part of everyday experience.' And what are lieux de memoire ? [They] are . . . vestiges . . . the rituals of a ritual-less society.” quote by Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e56/tony-judt-1730_memory_lieux-de-memoire-exist-because-there-are_21586.jpg)
