"No one is immune from the larger events of his or her time - the Depression, World War II, civil rights, Vietnam, the spring of 1989 in China. These events intrude upon our lives and radically affect our directions"

In this quote, Paul Tsongas is highlighting the truth that nobody is exempt from the major events that occur throughout their life time. He discusses significant events such as the Great Depression, World War II, civil rights motions, and the Vietnam War, which have all had an extensive impact on society. Tsongas also includes the spring of 1989 in China, which was a time of political and social turmoil. He highlights that these occasions do not simply happen in isolation, but they intrude upon our lives and significantly influence the paths we take. This quote functions as a pointer that we are all linked to the bigger events of our time and can not leave their effects.