I think hard times are coming when we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now and can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies to other ways of being, and even imagine some real grounds for hope.

Analysis

The quoted passage matches **word-for-word** the transcribed text of Le Guin’s speech, published by the *National Book Foundation* and widely reported by credible outlets like *The Guardian* and *NPR*. The thematic focus on resistance to fear-driven societies and technological obsession aligns with her long-standing literary and philosophical concerns, as seen in works like *The Dispossessed* (1974). No evidence suggests misattribution or fabrication.

Background

Le Guin (1929–2018) was a celebrated speculative fiction author known for exploring anarchism, ecology, and alternative social structures. Her 2014 speech critiqued capitalism and corporate publishing while advocating for literature as a tool for imagining systemic change. The National Book Foundation’s official archives preserve the full speech, which went viral for its political urgency.

Verdict summary

Ursula K. Le Guin did make this statement during her **2014 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters** acceptance speech, as verified by official transcripts and recordings.

Sources consulted