Quote by Barbara Ehrenreich
If that's how it all started, then we might as well face the fact that what's left out there is a great deal of shrapnel and a whole bunch of cinders (one of which is, fortunately, still hot enough and close enough to be good for tanning).
Summary
This quote suggests that if the initial situation or beginning was negative or destructive, then the current state of affairs will also reflect the same. It implies that what remains is a lot of debris and remnants, highlighting the damaged or ruined state of the situation. The metaphor of shrapnel and cinders symbolizes the aftermath of destruction and implies that there might be a glimmer of hope or opportunity amidst the chaos, represented by the hot cinder suitable for tanning.