--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every decent man of our age must be a…" description: "\"Every decent man of our age must be a coward and a slave. That is his normal condition. Of that I am firmly persuaded. He is made and constructed to th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/anonymous-1_age_every-decent-man-of-our-age-must-be-a-co_436406.jpg" --- # Every decent man of our age must be a coward and a slave… ![“Every decent man of our age must be a coward and a slave. That is his normal condition. Of that I am firmly persuaded. He is made and constructed to that very end. And not only at the present time owing to some casual circumstance, but always, at all times, a decent man is bound to be a coward and…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/anonymous-1_age_every-decent-man-of-our-age-must-be-a-co_436406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/anonymous-1_age_every-decent-man-of-our-age-must-be-a-co_436406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/anonymous-1_age_every-decent-man-of-our-age-must-be-a-co_436406.jpg) > “Every decent man of our age must be a coward and a slave. That is his normal condition. Of that I am firmly persuaded. He is made and constructed to that very end. And not only at the present time owing to some casual circumstance, but always, at all times, a decent man is bound to be a coward and a slave.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that a respectable person is inherently fearful and subservient, suggesting this is an unchanging human condition. **In simple terms:** A decent man is always a coward and slave. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge ingrained fear and submission. Themes human nature fear subservience identity determinism Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - social activism - mental health - education Key Concepts psychology social conditioning existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Do you see examples of people defying this pattern? - How can one cultivate courage in daily life? A Different Perspective It may overgeneralize and ignore individuals who act bravely despite societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Present time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-time/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [“Every decent man of our time is and is bound to be a coward and a slave. This is his normal condition. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/every-decent-man-of-our-time-is-and-is-bound-to-be-a-coward-and-a/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [It is a law of nature that every decent man on earth is bound to be a coward and a slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-that-every-decent-man-on-earth-is-bound-to-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was a coward and a slave. 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