The real stumbling-block of totalitarian r?gimes is not the spiritual need of men for freedom of thought; it is men's inability to stand the physical and nervous strain of a permanent state of excitement, except during a few years of their youth.

Summary

This quote suggests that the downfall of totalitarian regimes is not primarily due to the desire for intellectual freedom, but rather the inability of individuals to cope with the constant state of heightened stimulation and anxiety that such regimes maintain. It implies that people can only maintain this level of fervor and enthusiasm for a limited time, typically in their youth, before succumbing to physical and mental exhaustion. Ultimately, this implies that the sustainability of a repressive regime relies on the manipulation and control of individuals' physical and emotional states.

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