Anxiety Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“Perhaps anxious politicians may prove that only seventeen white men and five negroes were concerned in the late enterprise; but their very anxiety to prove this might suggest to themselves that all is not told. Why do they still dodge the truth? They are so anxious because of a dim consciousness of the fact, which they do not distinctly face, that at least a million of the free inhabitants of the United States would have rejoiced if it had succeeded. They at most only criticise the tactics.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Civil Disobedience", 1849
Anxious leaders may hide truth due to fear of confronting uncomfortable realities.
In simple terms: Leaders fear truth, leading to avoidance.
Key Takeaway
Address underlying anxieties.
Themes
politics
truth
fear
leadership
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- public statements
- media coverage
- community meetings
Key Concepts
cognitive dissonance
social denial
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths are leaders avoiding today?
- How does fear shape political narratives?
A Different Perspective
Confronting truth can cause conflict.
![“Senator [Stephen] Douglas is of world-wide renown. All the anxious politicians of his party, or who have been of his party for years past, have been looking upon him as certainly, at no distant day, to be the President of the United States. They have seen in his round, jolly, fruitful face, post…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad4/abraham-lincoln-88_anxious_senator-stephen-douglas-is-of-world-wide_2804348.jpg)
![“Speaking of [Colin] Kaepernick, did you see what [Barack] Obama said about Kaepernick? I mean this was the biggest dodge I have ever seen. This may have been the most vacuous or empty statement on anything, because Obama clearly wanted to agree with Kaepernick but couldn't.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/46a/rush-limbaugh-28_agree_speaking-of-colin-kaepernick-did-you-see_251090.jpg)
