It is said that those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. It may well be that a war neurosis stirred up by propaganda of fear and hatred is the prelude to destruction.
John Boyd OrrRead
Measured in time of transport and communication, the whole round globe is now smaller than a small European country was a hundred years ago.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Advancements in transport and communication have drastically reduced the perceived size of the world.
This quote by John Boyd Orr highlights how technological advancements in transport and communication have transformed our world, making it feel smaller and more interconnected. A hundred years ago, distances were measured in days or weeks of travel, whereas today, we can connect with anyone around the globe in an instant, reshaping our understanding of distance and accessibility.
Themes
TransportCommunicationTechnologyGlobalizationInterconnectedness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about globalization, you might quote Orr to illustrate the incredible advancements in communication.
More from John Boyd Orr
All quotes βThere can be no peace in the world so long as a large proportion of the population lack the necessities of life and believe that a change of the political and economic system will make them available. World peace must be based on world plenty.
John Boyd OrrRead
As we have seen, the wireless and the airplane have made the world so small and nations so dependent on each other that the only alternative to war is the United States of the World.
John Boyd OrrRead
When the fabric of society is so rigid that it cannot change quickly enough, adjustments are achieved by social unrest and revolutions.
John Boyd OrrRead
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