Quote of the Day

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

— The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien’s line is the heartbeat of eucatastrophe, our word of the day—that sudden turn toward hope when the night feels endless. Power can posture and lie, but ordinary courage still moves history: a voice that refuses propaganda, a neighbor who shows up, a worker who won’t be erased.

Today (Tue, Aug 26, 2025):

• At the Cabinet meeting, Trump insisted, “I’m not a dictator,” even as his rhetoric and moves skew more authoritarian.

• The meeting also featured fawning set pieces and partisan framing—one official even talked about “taking back” Labor Day from Democrats, as if the dignity of work belonged to one party.

In the last few days:

• Dictator double-speak: Yesterday, Trump said “maybe we like a dictator”—then immediately claimed he isn’t one. It’s the classic trick: deny with one breath, normalize with the next.

• Troops to cities: He has threatened to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago and other states, wielding federal power as a weapon against citizens.

• Enemies list in action: The FBI searched John Bolton’s home and office; Adam Schiff and Letitia James have also been openly targeted. Earlier this year, Trump revoked Miles Taylor’s clearance and directed investigations against him, part of the same retaliation pattern.

Why this matters:

Authoritarians try to make you feel small.

Tolkien argues that small is exactly where history turns. Refusing the lie. Calling out the gaslight.

Standing with workers and neighbors. Those “small” acts are levers—seeds of the sudden flip toward light.

Labor Day belongs to workers, to all of us—not to a party. Hold that line. Keep showing up. The turn can come fast.