The automatic reaction of practically any young person is, at once, against authority. That, I think, began in the First World War because of the trenches, and the incompetence of the people on all fronts. I think that a terrible bitterness and anger began there, which led to communism. And now it feeds terrorism. Anyway, that's my thesis. It's very oversimplified, as you can see.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Lessing argues that youthful rebellion against authority stems from the trauma and incompetence witnessed during the First World War, which fostered bitterness leading to communism and terrorism.
- In plain terms
- Young people's hatred of authority started with the failures and horrors of World War I.
- What can you take from it?
- Historical trauma can shape generational attitudes toward power and governance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do historical events shape youth attitudes?
- Is rebellion always a response to failure?
Another view
The claim oversimplifies complex historical causes by linking them directly to a single event.
More from Doris Lessing
None of you ask for anything - except everything, but just for so long as you need it.
Permalink to quote #43 It was OK, us being Reds during the war, because we were all on the same side. But then the Cold War started. Almost overnight we became enemies of people who …
Permalink to quote #45 There's only one real sin, and that is to persuade oneself that the second-best is anything but the second-best.
Permalink to quote #42
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