Abnegation Quote by Emma Goldman
“The Fathers of the Church can well afford to preach the gospel of Christ. It contains nothing dangerous to the regime of authority and wealth; it stands for self-denial and self-abnegation, for penance and regret, and is absolutely inert in the face of every [in]dignity, every outrage imposed upon mankind.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Anarchist writings, early 20th century
The church’s teachings promote self‑denial and are harmless to power, thus they cannot challenge authority or wealth.
In simple terms: Church teachings are harmless to power and
Recognize that faith may not confront injustice.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- activism
- political reform
- personal spiritual growth
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can spiritual practice become a tool for social change?
- Can faith inspire resistance rather than compliance?
Faith can be co‑opted to sustain oppression.