Philosophy Quote by Elizabeth Samet
““The notion that obedience dehumanizes those who render it is a popular cry of the philosophers of radical individualism, such as Thoreau, who are so important to America's myth of itself.””
About This Quote
Source Book: War: What Is It Good For? by Elizabeth Samet, 2015
The quote critiques how radical individualist philosophers claim obedience strips humanity from both the obeyers and the commanded, reflecting a broader American myth of self-reliance.
In simple terms: Obedience is said to dehumanize both sides, echoing American self‑reliance myths.
Key Takeaway
Question how obedience shapes identity.
Themes
individualism
myth
obedience
humanity
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military training
- civil disobedience
- workplace hierarchy
- educational settings
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
American identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What benefits might obedience provide?
- When does obedience become oppressive?
A Different Perspective
Obedience can also foster cooperation and shared purpose.
![“[on Thoreau:] For not a particle of respect had he to the opinions of any man or body of men, but homage solely to truth itself.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/35f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body_on-thoreau-for-not-a-particle-of-respect_556470.jpg)
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
