Americans are future-minded to the point of obsession. We are impatient at living in the present. Tomorrow is bound to be better... next year, next century, always what might be rather than what is. This trait in us makes for 'progress;' it also makes for a continuing dissatisfaction.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the American tendency to focus on the future at the expense of appreciating the present.
Gore Vidal highlights a cultural characteristic of Americans who are preoccupied with the future and believe in constant improvement. While this forward-looking mindset can drive progress and innovation, it also leads to a perpetual sense of dissatisfaction, as individuals often overlook the value of the present moment in their pursuit of what is yet to come.
In practice
In a motivational speech about embracing the present for personal growth.
We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of ours which connects kings and farm boys, artists and clerks. Let them see that the important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.
Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.
The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
For the average American, freedom of speech is simply the freedom to repeat what everyone else is saying and no more.
Ayn Rand's 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.... To justify and extol human greed and egotism is to my mind not only immoral, but evil.
As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.
Healthcare should be a human right and not a commodity for sale.
I am not bound to please thee with my answer.
Imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, " This is an interesting world I find myself in, an interesting hole I find myself in; fits me rather neatly, doesn't it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well! It must have been made to have me in it!
The greatest dread of ordinary man is death, with its rude imposition interrupting fortuitous plans and fondest attachments with an unknown and unwelcome change. The yogi is a conqueror of the grief associated with death. By control of mind and life force and the development of wisdom, he makes friends with the change of consciousness called death-he becomes familiar with the state of inner calmness and aloofness from identification with the mortal body.
Traveler, there is no path, the path must be_x000D_ forged as you walk.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.