We infantilize ourselves Here in the US, we expect government and law to be our conscience. Our superego, you could say. It has something to do with liberal individualism, and something to do with capitalism, but I don't understand much of the theoretical aspect—what I see is what I live in. Americans are in a way crazy. We infantilize ourselves. We don't think of ourselves as citizens—parts of something larger to which we have profound responsibilities. We think of ourselves as citizens when it comes to our rights and privileges, but not our responsibilities. We abdicate our civic responsibilities to the government and expect the government, in effect, to legislate morality. David Foster Wallace, The Pale King societygovernmentpoliticsmoralitycivics
It is a little world See how many a pretty thing I always from the cube can bring: Chair and sofa, bench and table, Desk to write at when I’m able, All the household furniture, Even baby’s bed I’m sure; Not a few such things I see; Stove and sideboard here can be. Many things, both old and new, My dear cube brings into view; So my cube much pleases me, Because through it so much I see. It is a little world. Ellen Lupton & J. Abbott Miller, The ABC's of ▲■●: The Bauhaus and Design Theory Cubed modularity