Who said “Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state. If they are…”?

Verified

William Golding. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Utopias and Antiutopias". Address to Les Anglicistes, Lille, 13 February 1977

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“Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state. If they are to be treated as anything but trivial exercises of the imagination. I suggest there is a simple test we can apply. We must forget the whole paraphernalia of social description, demonstration, expostulation, approbation, condemnation. We have to say to ourselves, ''How would I myself live in this proposed society? How long would it be before I went stark staring mad?''”
— William Golding
Verified"Utopias and Antiutopias". Address to Les Anglicistes, Lille, 13 February 1977 · evidenceUtopia

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Utopias and Antiutopias". Address to Les Anglicistes, Lille, 13 February 1977.

APA

Golding, W. (n.d.). Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state. If they are to be treated as anything but trivial exercises of the imagination. I suggest there is a simple test we can apply. We must forget the whole paraphernalia of social description, demonstration, expostulation, approbation, condemnation. We have to say to ourselves, ''How would I myself live in this proposed society? How long would it be before I went stark staring mad?'' [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41134-utopias-are-presented-for-our-inspection-as-a/

MLA

Golding, William. “Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state. If they are to be treated as anything but trivial exercises of the imagination. I suggest there is a simple test we can apply. We must forget the whole paraphernalia of social description, demonstration, expostulation, approbation, condemnation. We have to say to ourselves, ''How would I myself live in this proposed society? How long would it be before I went stark staring mad?''” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41134-utopias-are-presented-for-our-inspection-as-a/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Golding, William. “Utopias are presented for our inspection as a critique of the human state. If they are to be treated as anything but trivial exercises of the imagination. I suggest there is a simple test we can apply. We must forget the whole paraphernalia of social description, demonstration, expostulation, approbation, condemnation. We have to say to ourselves, ''How would I myself live in this proposed society? How long would it be before I went stark staring mad?''” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/41134-utopias-are-presented-for-our-inspection-as-a/.

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