It's easier for the former masters to put aside the masks that hid their humanity than for the former slaves to recognise the faces underneath. Or to trust that this is not a new mask these are wearing.
Nadine GordimerRead
If people would forget about utopia! When rationalism destroyed heaven and decided to set it up here on earth, that most terrible of all goals entered human ambition. It was clear there'd be no end to what people would be made to suffer for it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the pursuit of a perfect society, warning that it leads to suffering.
Nadine Gordimer's quote reflects a deep concern about the human ambition to create a utopia on earth through rationalism, which often results in significant suffering and loss. By arguing that striving for perfection can lead to disastrous consequences, Gordimer suggests that the desire for an ideal society often overshadows the values of compassion and understanding, ultimately leading to harm rather than fulfillment.
Themes
UtopiaRationalismSufferingAmbitionPerfection
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the dangers of idealism in politics, one could use this quote to emphasize the potential consequences of striving for a perfect society.
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A truly living human being cannot remain neutral.
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The caged eagle become a metaphor for all forms of isolation, the ultimate in imprisonment. A zoo is prison.
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