America Quote by Henry Miller
““We defend with our lives the petty principles which divide us. The common principle, which is the establishment of the empire of man on earth, we never lift a finger to defend. We are frightened of any urge which would lift us out of the muck. We fight only for the status quo, our particular status quo. We battle with heads down and eyes closed.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, possibly personal essay or interview, 20th century
He argues that people defend trivial, divisive beliefs while ignoring the larger, universal principle of humanity, fearing any change that would disrupt their comfort.
In simple terms: People protect small, selfish ideas and avoid defending humanity as a whole.
Key Takeaway
Challenge yourself to support broader human values.
Themes
politics
humanity
conformity
Mood
defiant
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- social movements
- political activism
- community building
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
individualism
collectivism
status quo
Questions to Reflect On
- What larger principle are you willing to defend?
- How do you confront fear of change?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the complexity of balancing personal and collective interests.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
