Quote by Rose Macaulay
Cranks live by theory, not by pure desire. They want votes, peace, nuts, liberty, and spinning-looms not because they love these things, as a child loves jam, but because they think they ought to have them. That is one element which makes the crank.
Summary
This quote suggests that cranks, or individuals with extreme and unconventional opinions, are driven by theory or ideology rather than genuine passion or desire. They advocate for political measures such as voting rights, peace, economic prosperity, freedom, and technological advancements not because they inherently love these things, but because they believe it is their societal obligation to pursue them. This ideological sense of duty or righteousness, rather than personal inclination or enjoyment, is identified as one of the defining characteristics of a crank.