Here in Britain, black people are disproportionately targeted, arrested and imprisoned for drug offences, while organised and violent crime are granted a massive source of revenue.
A desire for social connection is fundamentally hardwired into our psychology, and so being deprived of it has devastating mental and physical consequences. Yet we live in a society which has become ever more fragmented and atomised.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human beings have an inherent need for social connections, and lacking these can lead to serious consequences for both mental and physical health.
Owen Jones highlights the intrinsic human necessity for social bonds, suggesting that our psychological makeup drives us to seek connections with others. In a modern society that increasingly fractures and isolates individuals, the consequences of social deprivation can be severe, affecting both mental well-being and physical health, thus prompting a reflection on how vital our relationships are for a fulfilling life.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health awareness, one might say, 'As Owen Jones pointed out, our need for social connection is hardwired, and without it, we risk severe consequences.'
More from Owen Jones
All quotes →Neoliberalism has left Britain's boss classes drunk on triumphalism, paying themselves record salaries and bonuses while their workers are imprisoned by poverty and insecurity. It was never going to last.
Socialism is the democratisation of every level of society, or it is nothing. It is based on an understanding that the concentration of wealth and power leaves democracy hollowed out, and that simply trooping to a polling station every few years is an insufficient counterweight to the behemoths of global capital.
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Every man rejoices twice when he has a partner in his joy. He who shares tears with us wipes them away. He divides them in two, and he who laughs with us makes the joy double.
If public figures came out of the closet, then the LGBT kids who saw them on TV would feel safe, before they even knew why they felt dangerous. Maybe if enough people came out of the closet, gay kids would never feel dangerous. Maybe we could have a world where we could all just live. We may not all agree, but why can't we just all live?
You can achieve all the things you want to do, but it's much better to do it with loved ones around you; family and friends, people that you care about that can help you on the way and can celebrate you, and you can enjoy the journey.
An intimate relationship is one that allows you to be yourself.
Be honest, brutally honest. That is what's going to maintain relationships.