If we assume the best in people, we can radically redesign our democracy and welfare states.
Rutger BregmanRead
New ideas rarely come from the moderate parties in The Hague or Washington, in Brussels or Westminster. The world's political centres are not the breeding ground for true change, but rather where it comes home to roost.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True change originates from outside traditional political centers, emerging from grassroots movements instead.
This quote by Rutger Bregman suggests that significant and meaningful change does not typically arise from established political institutions and moderate parties. Instead, it highlights the idea that transformative ideas and actions often come from grassroots movements and the broader communities where people live and engage with one another, rather than being birthed in political capitals where conventional thinking prevails.
Themes
ChangePoliticsGrassrootsInnovationIdeas
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire activists before a rally to emphasize the importance of grassroots movements.
More from Rutger Bregman
All quotes →Since long workdays lead to more errors, shorter workdays could reduce accidents. Overtime is deadly. Tired surgeons have been found to be more prone to slip'ups, and soldiers who get too little shuteye are more prone to miss targets.
Rutger BregmanRead
My hope is that the corona crisis will help bring us into a new age of cooperation and solidarity and a realization that we're in this together.
Rutger BregmanRead
This is what a crisis does: It makes you question the status quo. That doesn't mean that after a crisis we move into some kind of utopia. But it is an opportunity for political change.
Rutger BregmanRead
While it won't solve all the world's ills - and ideas such as a rent cap and more social housing are necessary in places where housing is scarce - a basic income would work like venture capital for the people.
Rutger BregmanRead
Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and generals. That we can trust people to govern themselves and make their own decisions.
Rutger BregmanRead
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