"We shall therefore speak of a generation as an actuality only where a concrete bond is created between members of a generation by their being exposed to the social and intellectual symptoms of a process of dynamic de-stabilization.
The Problem of Generations, 1952[1927/28], p.303
This passage captures the essence of generational consciousness - how shared experiences of social upheaval create bonds that transcend individual differences. Mannheim's insight remains particularly relevant when examining contemporary youth movements and their collective responses to political and social change.