What modern humans need help with is escaping from the despair
What modern humans need help with is escaping from the despair of politics, commerce and media, escaping from the drabness and oppressiveness of worldly values and seeing through suburban mentality and normal community standards so that they can find some much-needed relief for their wilting souls.
The words of Michael Leunig — “What modern humans need help with is escaping from the despair of politics, commerce and media…” — rise like a cry from the wilderness, a lament for the weary spirit of our age. He speaks of the despair that creeps silently into the human heart when it is chained to the endless machinery of worldly values. For when the soul is pressed beneath the weight of politics, drowned by the clamor of commerce, and blinded by the illusions of media, it begins to wither, losing its fire, forgetting its song.
The ancients knew that man is not born to live only in the marketplace or under the decrees of rulers. He is born to touch the stars, to drink of the rivers, to hear the silence between the winds. Yet today, the spirit is bound by suburban mentality and community standards that prize conformity over wonder, sameness over freedom. These are prisons built not of stone, but of expectation. The wise Leunig sees this, and he calls upon mortals to seek escape, not through destruction or rebellion, but through awakening, so that the soul may again breathe.
Consider the life of Henry David Thoreau, who, disillusioned with the noise of his society, fled to the quiet shores of Walden Pond. There he found not despair but renewal. By stepping away from the oppressive values of his time, he discovered simplicity, beauty, and truth. His act was not the rejection of life, but the reclaiming of it. His story is the embodiment of Leunig’s vision: that sometimes to live fully, one must first escape the half-life imposed by the world.
This teaching is no call to abandon one’s duties, but a reminder that without relief for the soul, even the greatest achievements turn to dust in the mouth. Wealth, position, applause — these are fleeting shadows, yet many chase them until their hearts grow hollow. To turn from them, even for a time, is to drink from a hidden spring, where joy returns and meaning is restored.
Therefore, O seekers of truth, do not surrender your spirit to the drabness of ordinary measures. The soul is not made to be caged within the narrow walls of convention. Walk beyond them. Seek the wild places, the still waters, the beauty that transcends commerce and decree. For only there will you find the healing of which Leunig speaks — the lifting of despair, the rekindling of fire, and the restoration of your divine inheritance.
TTLuu Truong Thi
Leunig's quote is a poignant reminder of how easy it is to feel trapped by modern pressures. But what does it mean for someone’s ‘wilting soul’ to find relief? Is it just a matter of unplugging from the overwhelming noise of politics and commerce, or does it require a fundamental shift in values? How do we guide ourselves and others toward a simpler, more meaningful existence, while still participating in the systems around us?
NQDai Nguyen Quoc
I get where Leunig is coming from, but I wonder if the desire to escape from societal values and pressures sometimes leads to a sense of alienation. What happens when people retreat too far from the norms of community or suburban life? Can this escape lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment, or does it risk creating more isolation and a lack of connection with others? Is there a balance between self-reflection and engagement with society that is possible?
MMineva
Leunig’s take on ‘escaping’ the modern world resonates with me, but I’m curious how we actually make this shift. It's easy to get caught up in the routines and pressures of life, but how do you practically escape the ‘drabness’ of worldly values? Do people just need to disconnect more from technology and consumer culture, or is it more about fostering personal growth and introspection to find deeper meaning in life outside societal expectations?
KHPham Khanh Hung
I find Leunig’s perspective refreshing, but it raises some important questions about what ‘escape’ actually looks like. Is he calling for a complete rejection of modern society, or is he suggesting that we should seek a healthier balance? How can people free themselves from the suffocating norms of commerce and media while still participating in the world? Is the key to mental relief more about awareness or creating alternative spaces to thrive?
KN⑅⁺◛˖༺☆° ﾟphan thi kim nganﾟ°☆༻˖◛⁺⑅
Michael Leunig’s quote really speaks to the overwhelming nature of modern life. Politics, commerce, and media often feel like a constant bombardment, and it’s easy to get lost in them. But what does it really mean to escape from them? Is it possible to live without engaging in these aspects of society, or are they too ingrained in our everyday lives? Can we ever fully break free, or do we just find ways to cope with them?