"Our age knows nothing but reaction, and leaps from one extreme to another"
- Reinhold Niebuhr
About this Quote
This quote by Reinhold Niebuhr speaks with the state of the world in his time, and is still relevant today. It suggests that our society is constantly reacting to occasions, instead of taking a measured technique. We often swing from one extreme to another, without thinking about the consequences of our actions. This can be seen in the political arena, where celebrations typically take extreme positions on concerns, without thinking about the prospective effects. It can also be seen in the way we react to crises, where we typically take drastic steps without considering the long-term ramifications. This quote is a pointer that we should take a more measured approach to our choices, and think about the prospective repercussions before taking action. We ought to aim to find balance and moderation in our decisions, rather than jumping from one extreme to another.
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