Death Quote by Ernest Becker
““This is one of the reasons for bigotry and censorship of all kinds over personal morality: people fear that the standard morality will be undermined—another way of saying that they fear they will no longer be able to control life and death.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Denial of Death, Ernest Becker, 1973
People censor and discriminate because they fear losing control over life and death, seeing morality as a threat to that control.
In simple terms: Fear of losing control drives bigotry and censorship.
Key Takeaway
Question and challenge moral fear.
Themes
control
morality
fear
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- cultural conflicts
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
existentialism
social dynamics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fear shape your moral judgments?
- Can societies thrive without moral control?
A Different Perspective
Fear can be rationalized, not always justified.
![“If the partner becomes God he can just as easily become the Devil; the reason is not far to seek. For one thing, one becomes bound to the object in dependency. One needs it for self-justification. . . . [O]ne's self-development is restricted by the object, absorbed by it. It is too narrow a…” quote by Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bca/ernest-becker-7036_lose-yourself_if-the-partner-becomes-god-he-can-just-a_336762.jpg)
