It is the problem of the individual who thinks that one
man cannot possibly make a difference in the destiny of
that society.

It is the problem of the individual who doesn't really
understand the nature of free society or what it required
to make it work.

It is the problem of the individual who has no comprehension
of the multiplying power of single but sovereign units.

It is the problem of the individual who regards the act of
pulling a single lever in a voting booth in numerical
terms rather than historical terms.

It is the problem of the individual who has no real
awareness of the millions of bricks that had to be put into
place, one by one, over many centuries, in order for him
to dwell in the penthouse of freedom. Nor does he see any
special obligation to those who continue building the
structure or to those who will have to live in it after him,
for better or worse.

It is the problem of the individual who recognizes no
direct relationship between himself and the decisions made
by government in his name. Therefore, he feels no special
obligation to dig hard for the information necessary to an
understanding of the issue leading to those decisions.

In short, freedom's main problem is the problem of the
individual who takes himself lightly historically.

Norman Cousins
Human Options



Back