Country Quote by Eula Biss
“Wealthier countries have the luxury of entertaining fears the rest of the world cannot afford.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Luxury of Fear" in "The New Yorker", 2015
Wealthier nations can afford to worry about abstract threats that poorer societies cannot prioritize.
In simple terms: Rich countries can afford to fear things poor people cannot.
Key Takeaway
Recognize privilege in concerns.
Themes
privilege
fear
global inequality
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- international aid
- media analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
socioeconomic disparity
psychology of fear
Questions to Reflect On
- How does wealth shape what we fear?
- Can fear be a catalyst for positive change?
A Different Perspective
Not all fears are equally impactful across societies.
![“I thought, how would I feel if my son gave one of those [underprivileged] kids chicken pox? For him it's not a terrible thing. We have good insurance and easy access to health care. It's a different situation for another family. I didn't want to make the decision for them.” quote by Eula Biss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16f/eula-biss-12946_access_i-thought-how-would-i-feel-if-my-son-gav_754757.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
