--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The effect of boredom on a large scale in…" description: "\"The effect of boredom on a large scale in history is underestimated. It is a main cause of revolutions, and would soon bring to an end all the static U..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/william-ralph-inge-6819_boredom_the-effect-of-boredom-on-a-large-scale-i_894411.png" --- # The effect of boredom on a large scale in history is… ![“The effect of boredom on a large scale in history is underestimated. It is a main cause of revolutions, and would soon bring to an end all the static Utopias and the farmyard civilization of the Fabians.” quote by William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/william-ralph-inge-6819_boredom_the-effect-of-boredom-on-a-large-scale-i_894411.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/william-ralph-inge-6819_boredom_the-effect-of-boredom-on-a-large-scale-i_894411.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/william-ralph-inge-6819_boredom_the-effect-of-boredom-on-a-large-scale-i_894411.png) > “The effect of boredom on a large scale in history is underestimated. It is a main cause of revolutions, and would soon bring to an end all the static Utopias and the farmyard civilization of the Fabians.” [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Boredom drives large‑scale social upheaval, destabilizing stagnant societies and prompting revolutions. **In simple terms:** Boredom can spark big changes. Key Takeaway Channel boredom into constructive action. Themes boredom revolution social change Mood thoughtful critical Type historical analytical When to use this quote - political movements - cultural stagnation - personal motivation Key Concepts psychology history Questions to Reflect On - How can boredom be harnessed for positive innovation? - What historical examples show boredom leading to reform? A Different Perspective Boredom alone may not cause change without leadership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutions/) [Utopia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utopia/) ## Related quotes > [The effect of boredom on a large scale in history is underestimated. It is a main cause of revolutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/the-effect-of-boredom-on-a-large-scale-in-history-is-underestimated/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Writer's block is the greatest side effect of boredom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-zebehazy/writer-s-block-is-the-greatest-side-effect-of-boredom/) [Jason Zebehazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-zebehazy/) > [Music used to cause revolutions and I'm not seeing much revolution anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/music-used-to-cause-revolutions-and-i-m-not-seeing-much-revolution/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [It is bad governments, not bad people, who cause revolutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-bad-governments-not-bad-people-who-cause-revolutions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The great cause of revolutions is this, that while nations move onward, constitutions stand still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-great-cause-of-revolutions-is-this-that-while-nations-move-onward/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The emergence of a unified cognitive moment relies on the coordination of scattered mosaics of functionally specialized brain regions. Here we review the mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/the-emergence-of-a-unified-cognitive-moment-relies-on-the/) [Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/) > [ Our agreements on creating the conditions for preparing a peace treaty \[with Japan\] should be rooted in this trust. This may be achieved, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/our-agreements-on-creating-the-conditions-for-preparing-a-peace/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The most essential mental quality for a free people, whose liberty is to be progressive, permanent and on a large scale, is much stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-most-essential-mental-quality-for-a-free-people-whose-liberty-is/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [History is neither more nor less than biography on a large scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-de-lamartine/history-is-neither-more-nor-less-than-biography-on-a-large-scale/) [Alphonse de Lamartine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-de-lamartine/) > [That was the most exciting period, I think: at first, when you get the success on that really large scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collen/that-was-the-most-exciting-period-i-think-at-first-when-you-get-the/) [Phil Collen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collen/) > [Longing on a large scale makes history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/longing-on-a-large-scale-makes-history/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale has also the power to control the government and legalize their robbery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-class-which-has-the-power-to-rob-upon-a-large-scale-has-also-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Industrialisation only can generate large-scale employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/industrialisation-only-can-generate-large-scale-employment/) [N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/) > [I am very focused on large-scale deployments of renewable power and how we're going to get this done. Imagine our military bases covered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/i-am-very-focused-on-large-scale-deployments-of-renewable-power-and/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [Although I'm perceived as very optimistic and upbeat, it comes out of being the opposite of that - feeling isolated or lonely, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/although-i-m-perceived-as-very-optimistic-and-upbeat-it-comes-out-of/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) ## More by William Ralph Inge > [The world belongs to those who think and act with it, who keep a finger on its pulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-world-belongs-to-those-who-think-and-act-with-it-who-keep-a/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [They who will live for others shall have great troubles, but they shall seem to them small. Those who will live for themselves shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/they-who-will-live-for-others-shall-have-great-troubles-but-they/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [The vulgar mind always mistakes the exceptional for the important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-vulgar-mind-always-mistakes-the-exceptional-for-the-important/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [The game of life is worth playing, but the struggle is the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-game-of-life-is-worth-playing-but-the-struggle-is-the-prize/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [It is becoming impossible for those who mix at all with their fellow-men to believe that the grace of God is distributed denominationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/it-is-becoming-impossible-for-those-who-mix-at-all-with-their-fellow/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Beneath the dingy uniformity of international fashions in dress, man remains what he has always been; a splendid fighting animal, a self-sacrificing hero, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/beneath-the-dingy-uniformity-of-international-fashions-in-dress-man/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [The Devil deserves zero tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-devil-deserves-zero-tolerance/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [We should think of the church as an orchestra in which the different churches play on different instruments while a Divine Conductor calls the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/we-should-think-of-the-church-as-an-orchestra-in-which-the-different/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Originality is undetected plagiarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/originality-is-undetected-plagiarism/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Each generation takes a special pleasure in removing the household gods of its parents from their pedestals, and consigning them to the cupboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/each-generation-takes-a-special-pleasure-in-removing-the-household/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Literature flourishes best when it is half a trade and half an art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/literature-flourishes-best-when-it-is-half-a-trade-and-half-an-art/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [No healthy civilization can ever be reared on a foundation of devitalized work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/no-healthy-civilization-can-ever-be-reared-on-a-foundation-of/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Public opinion, a vulgar, impertinent, anonymous tyrant who deliberately makes life unpleasant for anyone who is not content to be the average person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/public-opinion-a-vulgar-impertinent-anonymous-tyrant-who-deliberately/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [Deliberate cruelty to our defenceless and beautiful little cousins is surely one of the meanest and most detestable vices of which a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/deliberate-cruelty-to-our-defenceless-and-beautiful-little-cousins-is/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [The great discovery of the nineteenth century, that we are of one blood with the lower animals, has created new ethical obligations which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-great-discovery-of-the-nineteenth-century-that-we-are-of-one/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) [Explore all 97 William Ralph Inge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) ## More Boredom quotes > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Life is what you make it¦If one refuses to use ones imagination..it will be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-what-you-make-it-if-one-refuses-to-use-ones-imagination-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I'm bored of being bored because being bored is very boring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/i-m-bored-of-being-bored-because-being-bored-is-very-boring/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [When people look in the mirror, sometimes they see are their shells in the mirror, nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-look-in-the-mirror-sometimes-they-see-are-their-shells-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think anyone wants to do the same thing over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bachmann/i-don-t-think-anyone-wants-to-do-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again/) [Eric Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bachmann/) > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The most total opposite of pleasure is not pain but boredom, for we are willing to risk pain to make a boring life interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-most-total-opposite-of-pleasure-is-not-pain-but-boredom-for-we/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [We shop out of boredom, for release, for excitement, for a sense of achievement, for a sense of control over our unruly existences. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/we-shop-out-of-boredom-for-release-for-excitement-for-a-sense-of/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [That human life must be some kind of mistake is sufficiently proved by the simple observation that man is a compound of needs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/that-human-life-must-be-some-kind-of-mistake-is-sufficiently-proved/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Isn’t ‘not to be bored’ one of the principal goals of life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/isn-t-not-to-be-bored-one-of-the-principal-goals-of-life/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [The worst sin, the ultimate sin for me, in anything, is to be bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-worst-sin-the-ultimate-sin-for-me-in-anything-is-to-be-bored/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“To me, at least in retrospect, the really interesting question is why dullness proves to be such a powerful impediment to attention. Why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-me-at-least-in-retrospect-the-really-interesting-question-is-why/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Listen deeply. Meditate on that which is arising. Even if it's boredom or difficulty or maybe a feeling of being stuck, that in itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/listen-deeply-meditate-on-that-which-is-arising-even-if-it-s-boredom/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) [Browse all 1,505 Boredom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The effect of boredom on a large scale in history is underestimated. 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