Society is one vast conspiracy for carving one into the kind of statue likes, and then placing it in the most convenient niche it has.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that society shapes individuals to fit predetermined roles and expectations.
Randolph Bourne's quote reflects a critical view of society's influence on individual identity, positing that societal norms act like a conspiracy that molds people into specific forms or 'statues' that serve social convenience. This process often constricts personal freedom and authentic self-expression, as individuals are pressured to conform to roles that society deems acceptable or beneficial.
In practice
During a social sciences lecture on the impact of societal expectations on personal identity.
In your reaction to an imagined attack on your country or an insult to its government, you draw closer to the herd for protection, you conform in word and deed, and you insist vehemently that everybody else shall think, speak, and act together. And you fix your adoring gaze upon the State, with a truly filial look, as upon the Father of the flock.
We can easily become as much slaves to precaution as we can to fear. Although we can never rivet our fortune so tight as to make it impregnable, we may by our excessive prudence squeeze out of the life that we are guarding so anxiously all the adventurous quality that makes it worth living.
The State is not the nation, and the State can be modified and even abolished in its present form, without harming the nation. On the contrary, with the passing of the dominance of the State, the genuine life-enhancing forces of the nation will be liberated.
War is the Health of the State.
What you are you do not see, what you see is your shadow.
When pain is unbearable it destroys us; when it does not it is bearable.
What an immense mass of evil must result...from allowing men to assume the right of anticipating what may happen.
What is the source of all this trouble? I'm saying that the source is basically in thought. Many people would think that such a statement is crazy, because thought is the one thing we have with which to solve our problems. That's part of our tradition.
If you want to test cosmetics, why do it on some poor animal who hasn't done anything? They should use prisoners who have been convicted of murder or rape instead. So, rather than seeing if perfume irritates a bunny rabbit's eyes, they should throw it in Charles Manson's eyes and ask him if it hurts.
Whatever hysteria exists is inflamed by mystery, suspicion and secrecy. Hard and exact facts will cool it.
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