Who controls the past now controls the future._x000D_ Who controls the present now controls the past._x000D_ Who controls the past now controls the future._x000D_ Who controls the present now?
Zack De La RochaRead
Yes I know my enemies. They're the teachers who taught me to fight me, compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite, all of which are American dreams.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how the struggles and adversities in life are often shaped by societal norms and expectations.
In this quote, Zack De La Rocha reflects on the various adversaries that he believes are inherent in American society. Rather than traditional enemies, he identifies the societal forces and values—such as conformity, submission, and ignorance—that shape individuals' struggles. It suggests that these challenging elements act as teachers that inform one's fight against the oppressive norms of society, turning adversity into a catalyst for personal and collective awakening.
Themes
EnemiesSocietyStruggleConformityOppressionAmerican Dream
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a social justice presentation to illustrate the hidden challenges society imposes on individuals.
More from Zack De La Rocha
All quotes →I think every revolutionary act is an act of love. Every song that I've written, it is because of my desire to use music as a way to empower and re-humanize people who are living in a dehumanizing setting. The song is in order to better the human condition.
Zack De La RochaRead
Brothers and sisters, our democracy has been hijacked. Brothers and sisters, all electoral freedoms in this country are over so long as it's controlled by corporations. Brothers and sisters, we are not going to allow these streets to be taken over by the Democrats or the Republicans. Because it's all of us who have built this city, and we can tear it down unless they give us what we need.
Zack De La RochaRead
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime, what better place than here? What better time than now?
Zack De La RochaRead
Similar quotes
As long as human labor power, and, consequently, life itself, remain articles of sale and purchase, of exploitation and robbery, the principle of the “sacredness of human life” remains a shameful lie, uttered with the object of keeping the oppressed slaves in their chains.
Leon TrotskyRead
I sometimes wish that people would put a little more emphasis upon the observance of the law than they do upon its enforcement.
Calvin CoolidgeRead
The issue of prayer is not prayer; the issue of prayer is God.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
There were a lot of gods. Gods always come in handy, they justify almost anything.
Margaret AtwoodRead
Burning the flag is a form of expression. Speech doesn't just mean written words or oral words. It could be semaphore. And burning a flag is a symbol that expresses an idea - I hate the government, the government is unjust, whatever.
Antonin ScaliaRead
In the long run all battles are lost, and so are all wars.
H. L. MenckenRead