--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has gone catastrophically wrong in…" description: "\"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. W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/tony-judt-1730_ability_what-has-gone-catastrophically-wrong-in_640853.png" --- # What has gone catastrophically wrong in England and the… ![“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?'” quote by Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/tony-judt-1730_ability_what-has-gone-catastrophically-wrong-in_640853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/tony-judt-1730_ability_what-has-gone-catastrophically-wrong-in_640853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/tony-judt-1730_ability_what-has-gone-catastrophically-wrong-in_640853.png) > “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?'” [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [In social institutions, the whole is always less than the sum of its parts. 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I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“Markets do not automatically generate trust, cooperation or collective action for the common good. Quite the contrary: it is in the nature of economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/markets-do-not-automatically-generate-trust-cooperation-or-collective/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“ Lieux de memoire . . . 'exist because there are no longer any milieux de memoire , settings in which memory is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/lieux-de-memoire-exist-because-there-are-no-longer-any-milieux-de/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“Keynes died in 1946, exhausted by his wartime efforts. 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