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About this quote

What does it mean?
Trilling suggests that everyone possesses some degree of anarchistic impulse, challenging the notion of total social conformity.
In plain terms
Everyone has some rebellious instincts.
What can you take from it?
Recognize inherent dissent in human nature.

Where it applies

  • political theory classes
  • debates on social norms
  • analyzing civil disobedience

Putting it to work

  • study individual dissent
  • question authority

Questions to consider

  • How much chaos is necessary for freedom?
  • Do you feel anarchistic impulses?

Another view

It overlooks the structural causes of systemic rebellion.

More from Lionel Trilling

  1. Arnold must have for us the something of the character of what we nowadays have taken to calling a 'culture hero': that is, a man who gives himself in full sub…

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  2. Disgust is expressed by violence, and it is to be noted of our intellectual temper that violence is a quality which is felt to have a peculiarly intellectual s…

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. The aspects of society that humanism most exalts are justice and continuity. That is why humanism is always being presented with a contradiction. For when it s…

    Permalink to quote #13

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