Coward Quote by Baron d'Holbach
““...if in the heat of the dispute he insists and asks, 'Am I not the master of throwing myself out of the window?' I shall answer him, no; that whilst he preserves his reason there is no probability that the desire of proving his free agency, will become a motive sufficiently powerful to make him sacrifice his life to the attempt: if, notwithstanding this, to prove he is a free agent, he should actually precipitate himself from the window, it would not be a sufficient warranty to conclude he acted freely, but rather that it was the violence of his temperament which spurred him on to this folly. Madness is a state, that depends upon the heat of the blood, not upon the will. A fanatic or a hero, braves death as necessarily as a more phlegmatic man or a coward flies from it.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The System of Nature, 1770
Freedom is not proven by self‑destructive acts; madness, not will, drives such extremes, making true agency doubtful.
In simple terms: Self‑destruction doesn’t prove free will; madness drives it.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that reckless acts may stem from irrational impulses, not genuine freedom.
Themes
freedom
madness
agency
reason
psychology
Mood
thoughtful
critical
philosophical
Type
analytical
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- personal crisis
- psychological analysis
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
determinism
volition
temperament
irrationality
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we equate bravery with freedom?
- How can we differentiate rational sacrifice from madness?
A Different Perspective
Acts of self‑destruction can be coerced by emotional heat, not rational choice.
![“No one can tell you for certain if we have free will or we don't. [...] Whatever you choose to believe, you will probably want to agree with the philosopher John Locke, who argued that the whole debate is largely irrelevant. If it feels to us like free will, then let's treat it as free will and…” quote by J.W. Ironmonger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0bf/j-w-ironmonger-64016_debate_no-one-can-tell-you-for-certain-if-we-ha_657189.jpg)
