Context

It's a Brave New World, Shmoopers, and we're just living in it.

In Aldous Huxley's famous novel, the characters are all having a bit of a crisis. After John incites a riot at the hospital by throwing out the workers' soma (basically a government-sponsored drug), he, Bernard, and Hemlholtz are brought before the mysterious and powerful Controller, Mustapha Mond.

Mond talks to all of them before dismissing the two citizens and keeping the Savage. They then begin discussing God and religion as Mond tries to explain to John the advantages of the brave new world. But John, finally fed up with all of Mond's talk of being comfortable, bursts out with this quote—a cry for individuality and nonconformity if we've ever seen one.

Where you've heard it

We're betting you've seen it on the blog of an iconoclast—or out of the mouth of the rebel kid in your local cafeteria. In any case, this quote is all about wanting the freedom to make your own decisions—regardless of the consequences.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Yeah, this one isn't entirely respectful to those who aren't fortunate enough to have comfort: people who are forced to constantly live in threatening places or situations.

Sure, John might be talking more about the principle of how things should be, but given that we don't live in a brave new world (which is too bad because the Hatchery and Conditioning Centre sounds great), people might not take kindly to your presumptuous need for self-actualization when they're struggling for a bite to eat.