And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
All the common people want is to be left alone. All the ordinary soldier wants is to collect his pay and not get killed. That's why the great forces of history can be manipulated by astonishingly small groups of determined people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes how the desires of ordinary people can be easily overlooked by those in power, allowing small groups to manipulate larger societal forces.
Orson Scott Card's quote reflects on the passive desires of the common person, who primarily seeks peace and safety in their lives, contrasting with the ambitious, often ruthless agendas of a few individuals or groups in positions of power. It suggests that the ordinary soldier, representing the general populace, is focused on survival and basic needs, illustrating how their indifference or obedience can be exploited by those with determination and authority, ultimately shaping the course of history without the consent of the majority.
Themes
PowerManipulationOrdinaryHistoryCommon People
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political discussion about the influence of grassroots movements.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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