To say I accept in an age like our own is to say that you accept concentration-camps, rubber truncheons, Hitler, Stalin, bombs, aeroplanes, tinned food, machine guns, putsches, purges, slogans, Bedaux belts, gas-masks, submarines, spies, provocateurs, press-censorship, secret prisons, aspirins, Hollywood films and political murder.

Summary

This quote suggests that accepting the realities and conveniences of the present age, without questioning or condemning its negative aspects, is akin to endorsing and embracing the atrocities and oppressions perpetrated by various authoritarian regimes and technologies throughout history. It is a cautionary statement that encourages critical thinking and societal awareness instead of blind acceptance. By listing specific examples of human suffering and abuse, the quote highlights the importance of vigilance and active resistance against injustice and tyranny.

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