“I’d like to repeat the advice I gave you before, in that I think you really should make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. (57)"

• McCandless saw society as we know it as being very flawed, this quote represents one reason he thought that. Society has made people feel as if they need to be like everyone else to have security, so they are scared to try something they want to do if it doesn't fit with the rest of society.