Absolute power Quote by Isabel Paterson
““Fear and want are subjective; and poverty is the absence of wealth. If it were promised that from the hour of his birth no man should ever again stand in his naked skin, who is to produce the clothes? who is to have such absolute power over every person? The only condition in which no one can experience poverty, want, or fear, is that of rigor mortis. The dead neither want nor fear.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Power of the Mind, 1930s
The quote argues that fear, want, and poverty are mental constructs, and only death eliminates them completely.
In simple terms: Fear, want, and poverty are mental, only death ends them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that many hardships are psychological, not inevitable.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
poverty
death
human condition
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- policy debate
- mental health counseling
- ethical discussions
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Existentialism
subjective reality
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What mental barriers limit your sense of security?
- How can societies address both material and psychological needs?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks structural causes of poverty and the value of striving for improvement.
![“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even his political vindictiveness; so the Christian made the requirements of human feeling the absolute powers and laws of the world. [T]hat is, indeed, only of man considered…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd1/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_abrahamism_as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national_31284.jpg)
