"In many people it is already an impertinence to say 'I'"

Theodor Adorno's quote speaks to the idea of individualism and the significance of acknowledging the cumulative. He is suggesting that in lots of people, it is seen as arrogant or presumptuous to assert one's own specific identity. He is indicating that in order to become part of a larger collective, one should be willing to compromise their own specific identity. This is a tip that we are all part of a bigger whole which our specific identities are not as important as the cumulative. Adorno is suggesting that we need to be humble and recognize that our individual identities are not as crucial as the collective. He is likewise recommending that we need to want to put the collective before our own individual requirements and desires. By doing so, we can develop a more harmonious and unified society.