No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it…
““No fear can stand up to hunger, no patience can wear it out, disgust simply does not exist where hunger is; and as to superstition, beliefs, and what you may call principles, they are less than chaff in a breeze. Don't you know the devilry of lingering starvation, its exasperating torment, its black thoughts, its sombre and brooding ferocity? Well, I do. It takes a man all is inborn strength to fight hunger properly. It's really easier to face bereavement, dishonour, and the perdition of one's soul - than this kind of prolonged hunger. Sad, but true. And these chaps, too, had no earthly reason for any kind of scruple. Restraint! I would just as soon have expected restraint from a hyena prowling amongst the corpses of a battlefield.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Hunger overwhelms all other concerns; it is a primal force that eclipses fear, patience, and belief.
In simple terms: Starvation dominates all.
Key Takeaway
Address basic needs before higher concerns.
Themes
hunger
survival
psychology
human nature
Mood
somber
urgent
Type
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- disaster relief
- poverty aid
- personal health crises
Key Concepts
biology
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does scarcity reshape values?
- What systems prevent chronic hunger?
A Different Perspective
Addressing hunger alone may not solve deeper societal issues.