When a documentary filmmaker, working in the style that I do, suggests that there has been a shooting ratio of 40 hours to every one hour of finished film, that doesn't mean that the other 39 are bad.
Ken BurnsRead
I think we too often make choices based on the safety of cynicism, and what we're lead to is a life not fully lived. Cynicism is fear, and it's worse than fear - it's an active disengagement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cynicism can prevent us from fully experiencing life and can lead to disengagement.
In this quote, Ken Burns expresses the idea that choosing cynicism as a defense mechanism limits our engagement with life. He emphasizes that cynicism is not just a form of fear; rather, it actively pulls us away from meaningful experiences and connections, ultimately leading to a life that lacks depth and authenticity.
Themes
CynicismFearEngagementLifeChoices
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech on embracing life, one might refer to this quote to inspire others to overcome their cynicism.
More from Ken Burns
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It is the great arrogance of the present to forget the intelligence of the past
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Jazz is a very accurate, curiously accurate accompaniment to 20th century America.
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