Today's Europeans and Americans who reached the age of awareness after midcentury when the communications revolution lead to expectations of instantanaiy are exasperated by the slow toils of history. They assume that the thunderclap of cause will be swiftly followed by the lightening bolt of effect.

William Manchester
About This Quote

The above quote is by the American writer John McPhee who was referring to the slow pace of events in the modern world. He felt that people ought to be more patient, that things would happen more quickly. But they didn’t, and he was frustrated. Then, in saying things would happen quickly, he actually said they wouldn’t.

Source: The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions Of Glory 18741932

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