--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What keeps a person passive and…" description: "\"“What keeps a person passive and compliant,” he explained, “is fear of repercussions, but once you let go of your attachment to things that don’t ultim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/glenn-greenwald-1215_fear_what-keeps-a-person-passive-and-complian_2362855.jpg" --- # What keeps a person passive and compliant,” he explained… ![“What keeps a person passive and compliant,” he explained, “is fear of repercussions, but once you let go of your attachment to things that don’t ultimately matter—money, career, physical safety—you can overcome that fear.” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/glenn-greenwald-1215_fear_what-keeps-a-person-passive-and-complian_2362855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/glenn-greenwald-1215_fear_what-keeps-a-person-passive-and-complian_2362855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/glenn-greenwald-1215_fear_what-keeps-a-person-passive-and-complian_2362855.jpg) > ““What keeps a person passive and compliant,” he explained, “is fear of repercussions, but once you let go of your attachment to things that don’t ultimately matter—money, career, physical safety—you can overcome that fear.”” [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of consequences keeps people passive; releasing attachment to nonessential things removes that fear, enabling action. **In simple terms:** Fear stops us; letting go frees us. Key Takeaway Detach from nonessential concerns. Themes fear attachment agency freedom Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - financial planning - personal safety decisionsactivism - risk taking Key Concepts existentialism psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What attachments hold you back? - How can you safely let go of them? A Different Perspective Detachment may be impractical when basic needs are at stake. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliant Explained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliant-explained-5791270/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Repercussions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-repercussions-2354663/) [Overcome Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome-fear/) [Passive Compliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive-compliant-1026194/) [Person Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-passive-2668512/) ## Related quotes > [We should not be comfortable or content in a society where the only way to remain free of surveillance and repression is if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/we-should-not-be-comfortable-or-content-in-a-society-where-the-only/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“But a surprising number of elected officials have told us that they can see the danger themselves, but cannot say so for fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/but-a-surprising-number-of-elected-officials-have-told-us-that-they/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“To listen to a person is not passive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/to-listen-to-a-person-is-not-passive/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [Many Canadians rightly fear the repercussions of Trudeau transforming Canada into a cashless society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslyn-lewis/many-canadians-rightly-fear-the-repercussions-of-trudeau-transforming/) [Leslyn Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslyn-lewis/) > [I don't know what stops Indian athletes from expressing their thoughts freely, maybe it is the fear of repercussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/i-don-t-know-what-stops-indian-athletes-from-expressing-their/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/nothing-so-aggravates-an-earnest-person-as-a-passive-resistance/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“so many people judge the value of their actions not on the basis of the action itself, but on the basis of how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/so-many-people-judge-the-value-of-their-actions-not-on-the-basis-of/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“Those who choose to walk on love's path are well served if they have a guide. 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