WIST Quotations

Paton, Alan -- “The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)

Dave — Wed, 04 May 2022 00:10:11 +0000

When men are ruled by fear, they strive to prevent the very changes that will abate it.

Alan Paton (1903-1988) South African author, activist
“The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)
(Source)

Collected in Sheridan Baker, The Essayist (1981).

Paton, Alan -- “The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)

Dave — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:02:21 +0000

With the change of one’s self-interest, there comes also a change in one’s ideology, one’s values, one’s principles.

Alan Paton (1903-1988) South African author, activist
“The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)
(Source)

Collected in Sheridan Baker, The Essayist (1981).

Paton, Alan -- “The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)

Dave — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:57:56 +0000

Fear of change is, no doubt, in all of us, but it most afflicts the man who fears that any change must lead to loss of his wealth and status. When this fear becomes inordinate, he will, if he has political power, abrogate such things as civil rights and the rule of law, using the argument that he abrogates them only to preserve them. In my own country, the government, in order to preserve Christian civilization, uses methods incompatible with Christianity and abrogates values which are essential to any civilization which calls itself Christian. If only a man would say, “I do this because I’m afraid,” one could bear it; but when he says, “I do this because I’m good,” that is a bit too much.

Alan Paton (1903-1988) South African author, activist
“The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)
(Source)

Collected in Sheridan Baker, The Essayist (1981).

Paton, Alan -- “The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)

Dave — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 14:32:11 +0000

To give up the task of reforming society is to give up one’s responsibility as a free man. The task itself is endless, and large parts of it, sometimes the whole of it, must be performed anew by each succeeding generation.

Alan Paton (1903-1988) South African author, activist
“The Challenge of Fear,” The Saturday Review (1967-09-09)
(Source)

Collected in Sheridan Baker, The Essayist (1981).