It is the awareness of unfulfilled desires which gives a nation the feeling that it has a mission and a destiny.
Interpretation
Unfulfilled desires drive a nation toward a greater purpose and vision.
This quote by Eric Hoffer suggests that the recognition of unmet needs and wants within a society inspires a collective sense of purpose and destiny. It emphasizes that dissatisfaction can be a powerful motivator for national ambition and unity, as people strive to fulfill these desires collectively.
In practice
In a political speech discussing national goals, you can use this quote to emphasize the importance of aspirations.
Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when man asked the first question. Social stagnation results not from a lack of answers but from the absence of the impulse to ask questions.
Faith in humanity, in posterity, in the destiny of one's religion, nation, race, party or family-what is it but the visualization of that eternal something to which we attach the self that is about to be annihilated?
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.
Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about.
Perhaps a modern society can remain stable only by eliminating adolescence, by giving its young, from the age of ten, the skills, responsibilities, and rewards of grownups, and opportunities for action in all spheres of life. Adolescence should be a time of useful action, while book learning and scholarship should be a preoccupation of adults.
It is as absurd to argue men, as to torture them, into believing.
The social principles of Christianity preach cowardice, self-contempt, abasement, submission, humility, in a word all the qualities of the canaille
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.
The intention to live as long as possible isn't one of the mind's best intentions, because quantity isn't the same as quality.
No one's death comes to pass without making some impression, and those close to the deceased inherit part of the liberated soul and become richer in their humanness.
Your God person puts an apple tree in the middle of a garden and says, do what you like, guys, oh, but don't eat the apple. Surprise surprise, they eat it and he leaps out from behind a bush shouting "Gotcha". It wouldn't have made any difference if they hadn't eaten it.' 'Why not?' 'Because if you're dealing with somebody who has the sort of mentality which likes leaving hats on the pavement with bricks under them you know perfectly well they won't give up. They'll get you in the end.
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