Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
A brief statement suggesting something is a transformation of one form into another less desirable one.
In plain terms
Something has changed into a worse version of itself.
What can you take from it?
Watch for degeneration in ideas or systems.

Where it applies

  • critique
  • observation

Putting it to work

  • identify decline

Questions to consider

  • What makes a transformation negative?

Another view

The meaning is abstract without more context.

More from Christopher Hitchens

  1. That such a dynamic speaker, writer and thinker has devolved into a sputtering death-loving crank is certainly sad, especially for us who knew him back in the …

    Permalink to quote #96
  2. A couple of months after the invasion of Iraq, I was in Los Angeles and some drunk accosted me, saying, 'George Bush was right about everything he said about I…

    Permalink to quote #98
  3. Two altogether opposed political stances can each draw an audience's attention. One is to be politically consistent, but nonetheless original in one's insights…

    Permalink to quote #95

Related quotes

  1. The House has noticed the Prime Minister's remarkable transformation in the past few weeks, from Stalin to Mr Bean.

    Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin quote #46
  2. And the look on her face as she opened the door Was like an old joke told by a friend. It'd taken ten more years but she'd found her smile And I watched the co…

    Harry ChapinHarry Chapin quote #71
  3. You know the day destroys the night, Night divides the day, Tried to run - Tried to hide - Break on through to the other side!

    Jim MorrisonJim Morrison quote #1