"Then, with lots of people doing that without ever looking over their shoulders to see how they were affecting anybody else, it couldn't work, and it didn't work, and it just came to a standstill"

In this quote, Barbara Castle is highlighting the importance of considering the impact of our actions on others. She suggests that many individuals tackle their lives without ever stopping to consider how their habits might be impacting those around them. As an outcome, she argues that this approach is eventually unsustainable and leads to a dead stop. This could refer to a dead stop in relationships, society, or even development. Castle is highlighting the need for empathy and consideration towards others in order for things to work successfully. Without this awareness, she suggests that things will undoubtedly come to a stop.