Epidemic Quote by Wallace Stevens
““Thought is an infection. In the case of certain thoughts it becomes an epidemic. p901””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Idea of Order at Key West” (excerpt), 1939
Thought can spread like a disease, becoming widespread and overwhelming, suggesting that ideas can dominate mind and culture.
In simple terms: Ideas can spread uncontrollably like an infection.
Key Takeaway
Guard against harmful ideas spreading.
Themes
mind
influence
epidemic
critical thinking
cognitive health
Mood
reflective
analytical
cautious
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- media consumption
- political discourse
- online forums
- education curricula
Key Concepts
memetics
psychology
social contagion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate useful ideas from harmful ones?
- What practices protect mental health from idea overload?
A Different Perspective
Not all thoughts are harmful; some are essential for progress.
![“We're all going to go crazy, living this epidemic [AIDS] every minute, while the rest of the world goes on out there, all around us, as if nothing is happening, going on with their own lives and not knowing what it's like, what we're going through. We're living through war, but where they're…” quote by Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/20b/larry-kramer-13922_aids_we-re-all-going-to-go-crazy-living-this_186318.jpg)
