Admiration Quote by Georges Bataille
““Above all human existence requires stability, the permanence of things. The result is an ambivalence with respect to all great and violent expenditure of strength; such an expenditure, whether in nature or in man, represents the strongest possible threat. The feelings of admiration and of ecstasy induced by them thus mean that we are concerned to admire them from afar. The sun corresponds to that prudent concern. It is all radiance gigantic loss of heat and light, flame, explosion; but remote from men, who can enjoy in safety and quiet the fruits of this cataclysm. To earth belongs the solidity which sustains houses of stone and the steps of men (at least on its surface, for buried within the depths of the earth is the incandescence of lava).””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Accursed Share by Georges Bataille, 1949
Human fascination with power and destruction creates a paradox: we admire from a safe distance while fearing its direct impact, seeking stability over chaotic forces.
In simple terms: We admire powerful forces from afar but fear them up close.
Key Takeaway
Balance admiration with caution.
Themes
power
stability
human nature
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- natural disasters
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What dangers arise from admiring destructive power?
- How can societies channel such forces constructively?
A Different Perspective
Admiration can lead to complacency, ignoring underlying risks.
![“[F]or academic men to be happy, the universe would have to take shape. All of philosophy has no other goal: it is a matter of giving a frock coat to what is, a mathematical frock coat. On the other hand, affirming that the universe resembles nothing and is only formless amounts to saying that the…” quote by Georges Bataille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d5d/georges-bataille-3741_academic_f-or-academic-men-to-be-happy-the-univer_156790.jpg)
![“[Zarathustra] never abandoned the watchword of not having any end, not serving a cause, because, as he knew, causes pluck off the wings we fly with.” quote by Georges Bataille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7df/georges-bataille-3741_abandoned_zarathustra-never-abandoned-the-watchwor_257983.jpg)
