Agreement Quote by Wallace Stegner
“Civilizations grow by agreements and accomodations and accretions, not by repudiations. The rebels and the revolutionaries are only eddies, they keep the stream from getting stagnant but they get swept down and absorbed, they're a side issue. Quiet desperation is another name for the human condition. If revolutionaries would learn that they can't remodel society by day after tomorrow -- haven't the wisdom to and shouldn't be permitted to -- I'd have more respect for them ... Civilizations grow and change and decline -- they aren't remade.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Unknown work by Wallace Stegner, 1970s
Civilizations evolve through compromise and gradual change, not sudden revolutions; rebels stir but are eventually absorbed.
In simple terms: Societies change by agreements, not revolutions.
Key Takeaway
Value incremental change over radical upheaval.
Themes
history
society
change
revolution
compromise
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- social movements
- cultural evolution
- conflict management
Key Concepts
gradualism
political dynamics
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- Can small reforms prevent larger crises?
- When are revolutions necessary?
A Different Perspective
Revolutions can sometimes catalyze essential breakthroughs.
