---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Status Anxiety: A worry, so pernicious as…"
description: "\"Status Anxiety: A worry, so pernicious as to be capable of ruining extended stretches of our lives, that we are in danger of failing to conform to the ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alain-de-botton-221_anxiety_status-anxiety-a-worry-so-pernicious-as_2727529.jpg"
---

#  Status Anxiety: A worry, so pernicious as to be capable of…

![“Status Anxiety: A worry, so pernicious as to be capable of ruining extended stretches of our lives, that we are in danger of failing to conform to the ideals of success laid down by our society and that we may as a result be stripped of dignity and respect; a worry that we are currently occupying…” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alain-de-botton-221_anxiety_status-anxiety-a-worry-so-pernicious-as_2727529.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alain-de-botton-221_anxiety_status-anxiety-a-worry-so-pernicious-as_2727529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/alain-de-botton-221_anxiety_status-anxiety-a-worry-so-pernicious-as_2727529.jpg)

> “Status Anxiety: A worry, so pernicious as to be capable of ruining extended stretches of our lives, that we are in danger of failing to conform to the ideals of success laid down by our society and that we may as a result be stripped of dignity and respect; a worry that we are currently occupying too modest a rung or are about to fall to a lower one.”

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Societal pressure to succeed can erode dignity, causing anxiety about social rank.

**In simple terms:** Status pressure harms dignity.

Key Takeaway

Resist unhealthy status comparisons.

Themes

society anxiety status

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

philosophical self‑help

When to use this quote

- career planning
- social media use
- mental health

Key Concepts

sociology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines success for you?
- How can you protect dignity amid pressure?

A Different Perspective

Success definitions vary, making comparison complex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Dignity and respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity-and-respect/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

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