“The indifference of the railway authorities to the comforts of the third-class passengers, combined with the dirty and inconsiderate habits of the passengers themselves, makes third-class travelling a trial for a passenger of cleanly ways.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: M.K. Gandhi, autobiography / 'Third Class in Indian Railways'; his critique of third-class rail travel.
About this quote
Squalor in a shared space rarely has a single culprit. Neglect from whoever's responsible for it and carelessness from the people using it feed each other, so no repair holds unless both change at once. Cleaner surroundings ask something of the managers and of every person passing through.
When to use it
- A shared office kitchen stays filthy until facilities restock supplies and coworkers start rinsing their own mugs.
- A public park recovers only once the council adds bins and visitors actually carry their litter to them.
- An apartment stairwell improves after the landlord fixes the lights and tenants stop dumping boxes there.