Promises take many shapes, and the more … momentous they are, the more they might look like threats. All great promises are threats, I suppose, to the way things have been until that point, to some aspect of our lives, and we all suddenly become conservative, even though we want and need what the promise holds, and look forward to the promised change at the same time.
In Iain M. Banks' "The Hydrogen Sonata," the concept of promises is explored, emphasizing their complexity. Promises can embody both hope and fear; while they offer the possibility of change, they can also threaten the established order of our lives. This duality often leads to a sense of conservatism, where individuals may resist change despite their desire for innovation and progress.
The passage suggests that the more significant a promise becomes, the more it can feel like a looming threat to familiar routines and experiences. People often find themselves caught between excitement for potential advancements and anxiety over the implications of altering their current reality. This tension reflects a natural human response to change, illustrating our conflicting feelings about the future.
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