Corruption Quote by Tony Kushner
““…if a thing can be said to be, to exist, then such is the nature of these expansive times that this thing which is must suffer to be touched. Ours is a time of connection; the private, and we must accept this, and it’s a hard thing to accept, the private is gone. All must be touched. All touch corrupts. All must be corrupted. And if you’re thinking how awful these sentiments are, you are perfectly correct, these are awful times, but you must remember as well that this has always been the chiefest characteristic of the Present, to everyone living through it; always, throughout history, and so far as I can see for all the days and years to come until the sun and the stars fall down and the clocks have all ground themselves to expiry and the future has long long shaded away into Time Immemorial: the Present is always an awful place to be.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Angels in America by Tony Kushner, 1991
The quote reflects on how modern connectivity erodes privacy, making every aspect of life exposed and corrupted, and that this loss of privacy is an enduring, unsettling feature of the present era.
In simple terms: Modern connectivity destroys privacy, making everything exposed and corrupt.
Key Takeaway
Accept the loss of privacy and seek authentic connections.
Themes
privacy
technology
modernity
existentialism
societal change
Mood
anxious
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
critical
literary
When to use this quote
- social media use
- digital surveillance
- personal relationships
- public discourse
- media consumption
Key Concepts
connectivity
corruption
ephemerality
historical continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does constant connectivity affect your sense of self?
- Can you find moments of privacy in a hyperconnected world?
A Different Perspective
The view may overgeneralize and ignore spaces where privacy is protected or valued.
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