Avoidance Quote by George Orwell
“All progressive thought has assumed tacitly that human beings desire nothing beyond ease, security and avoidance of pain ... Hitler, because in his joyless mind he feels it with exceptional strength, knows that human beings don't only want comfort, safety, short working-hours, hygiene, birth-control and, in general, common sense; they also, at least intermittently, want struggle and self-sacrifice, not to mention drums, flags and loyalty-parades. However they may be as economic theories, Fascism and Nazism are psychologically far sounder than any hedonistic conception of life.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Unknown (likely unpublished), date unknown
Human desire extends beyond comfort to include struggle, sacrifice, and symbolic rituals, suggesting that purely hedonistic models miss essential motivational forces.
In simple terms: People need challenge and meaning, not just comfort.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the role of struggle in motivation.
Themes
motivation
human nature
politics
Mood
reflective
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political commentary
When to use this quote
- leadership
- activism
- personal growth
- policy making
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
social theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What struggles give your life meaning?
- How do symbols like flags influence loyalty?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on comfort can lead to complacency and loss of purpose.
![“[Hitler] has grasped the falsity of the hedonistic attitude to life. Nearly all western thought since the last war, certainly all “progressive” thought, has assumed tacitly that human beings desire nothing beyond ease, security, and avoidance of pain. In such a view of life there is no room, for…” quote by George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/636/george-orwell-57_adolf-hitler_hitler-has-grasped-the-falsity-of-the-he_1095773.jpg)
