Civilized society Quote by Gabor Maté
““The oft-observed relationship between stress, impaired immunity and illness has given rise to the concept of “diseases of adaptation,” a phrase of Hans Selye’s. The flight-or-fight response, it is argued, was indispensable in an era when early human beings had to confront a natural world of predators and other dangers. In civilized society, however, the flight-fight reaction is triggered in situations where it is neither necessary nor helpful, since we no longer face the same mortal threats to existence. The body’s physiological stress mechanisms are often triggered inappropriately, leading to disease. There””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Body Keeps the Score, 2014
Chronic stress triggers ancient fight‑or‑flight responses in modern, non‑threatening situations, leading to illness.
In simple terms: Stress misfires, causing disease.
Key Takeaway
Manage stress to protect health.
Themes
stress
immunity
modern life
evolutionary biology
Mood
concerned
inquisitive
Type
educational
scientific
When to use this quote
- workplace pressure
- urban living
- personal relationships
- healthcare
Key Concepts
allostatic load
psychoneuroimmunology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you differentiate harmful chronic stress from useful acute stress?
- What habits reduce unnecessary stress triggers?
A Different Perspective
Stress isn’t always harmful; brief activation can be beneficial.
![“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)
