--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What demon is our god? What name subsumes…" description: "\"What demon is our god? What name subsumes That act external to our sleeping selves? Not pleasure - it is much too broad and narrow, - Not sex, not for ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/j-v-cunningham-61074_autonomous_what-demon-is-our-god-what-name-subsumes_456713.png" --- # What demon is our god? What name subsumes That act… ![“What demon is our god? What name subsumes That act external to our sleeping selves? Not pleasure - it is much too broad and narrow, - Not sex, not for the moment love, but pride, And not in prowess, but pride undefined, Autonomous in its unthought demands, A bit of vanity, but mostly pride.” quote by J. V. Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/j-v-cunningham-61074_autonomous_what-demon-is-our-god-what-name-subsumes_456713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/j-v-cunningham-61074_autonomous_what-demon-is-our-god-what-name-subsumes_456713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/j-v-cunningham-61074_autonomous_what-demon-is-our-god-what-name-subsumes_456713.png) > “What demon is our god? What name subsumes That act external to our sleeping selves? Not pleasure - it is much too broad and narrow, - Not sex, not for the moment love, but pride, And not in prowess, but pride undefined, Autonomous in its unthought demands, A bit of vanity, but mostly pride.” [J. V. Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-v-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pride is an internal, self‑generated force that drives behavior beyond basic pleasures or love, often hidden and self‑referential. **In simple terms:** Pride is a hidden, self‑driven force. Key Takeaway Recognize and question your pride. Themes pride identity motivation Mood reflective serious Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology philosophy self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does pride influence your decisions? - When does pride become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Pride can blind self‑assessment and harm relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomous/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Prowess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prowess/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [“The virtues are economists, but some of the vices are also...Pride is handsome, economical; pride eradicates so many vices, letting none subsist but itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-virtues-are-economists-but-some-of-the-vices-are-also-pride-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nobody sets out to make a bad film, but so many of those compromises are made and often they're made because of vanity, pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-mccallum/nobody-sets-out-to-make-a-bad-film-but-so-many-of-those-compromises/) [Rick McCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-mccallum/) > [Pride is handsome, economical; pride eradicates so many vices, letting none subsist but itself, that it seems as if it were a great gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/pride-is-handsome-economical-pride-eradicates-so-many-vices-letting/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/vanity-and-pride-are-different-things-though-the-words-are-often-used/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“To be free of vanity or pride, these perhaps the gravest of all indulgences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/to-be-free-of-vanity-or-pride-these-perhaps-the-gravest-of-all/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Pride," observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, "is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/pride-observed-mary-who-piqued-herself-upon-the-solidity-of-her-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-truest-characters-of-ignorance-are-vanity-and-pride-and-arrogance/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Vanity and pride of nations; vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/vanity-and-pride-of-nations-vanity-is-as-advantageous-to-a-government/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Love of power more frequently originates in vanity than pride (two qualities, by the way, which are often confounded) and is, consequently, yet more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/love-of-power-more-frequently-originates-in-vanity-than-pride-two/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [“I did not hesitate to tell them that I not only had the authority of facts, but that it was my conviction that our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/i-did-not-hesitate-to-tell-them-that-i-not-only-had-the-authority-of/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [Pride... is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/pride-is-a-very-common-failing-i-believe-by-all-that-i-have-ever-read-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Vanity is a relative of Pride; Vanity is talkative, pride is silent. When Vanity and Pride get together, they could make monstrosities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/vanity-is-a-relative-of-pride-vanity-is-talkative-pride-is-silent/) [Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/) > [I would much rather fight pride than vanity, because pride has a stand-up way of fighting. You know where it is. It throws its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-would-much-rather-fight-pride-than-vanity-because-pride-has-a-stand/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [An island always pleases my imagination, even the smallest, as a small continent and integral portion of the globe. I have a fancyfor building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/an-island-always-pleases-my-imagination-even-the-smallest-as-a-small/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even the most abject have a sense of superiority based on powerful though undefined merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-abject-have-a-sense-of-superiority-based-on-powerful/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by J. V. Cunningham > [Naked I came, naked I leave the scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-v-cunningham/naked-i-came-naked-i-leave-the-scene/) [J. V. Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-v-cunningham/) > [I like the trivial, vulgar and exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-v-cunningham/i-like-the-trivial-vulgar-and-exalted/) [J. V. Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-v-cunningham/) > [This Humanist whom no beliefs constrained Grew so broad-minded he was scatter-brained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-v-cunningham/this-humanist-whom-no-beliefs-constrained-grew-so-broad-minded-he-was/) [J. V. Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-v-cunningham/) > [The writer asks himself, 'Can I think of a plot that will parallel this? Can I take this work of literature as an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-v-cunningham/the-writer-asks-himself-can-i-think-of-a-plot-that-will-parallel-this/) [J. V. Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-v-cunningham/) [Explore all 5 J. V. Cunningham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-v-cunningham/) ## More Autonomous quotes > [While much of modern behavioral and social science treats individuals as autonomous agents, it is absolutely clear that the way we think and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-r-nelson/while-much-of-modern-behavioral-and-social-science-treats-individuals/) Richard R. Nelson > [Autonomous vehicles, because they'll be able to operate at a lower cost, will be able to pull more consumers into the Lyft network. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zimmer/autonomous-vehicles-because-they-ll-be-able-to-operate-at-a-lower/) [John Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zimmer/) > [Melbourne, where I grew up, is one of the street art capitals of the world. Something about discovering freshly painted walls always fills me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-mitchell/melbourne-where-i-grew-up-is-one-of-the-street-art-capitals-of-the/) [Penelope Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-mitchell/) > [“Last Wednesday Vince Cable, the UK business secretary, invited British cities to express their interest in being used as testing grounds for driverless cars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/last-wednesday-vince-cable-the-uk-business-secretary-invited-british/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before a leader can be accepted, let alone succeed, autonomous professionals must agree to be influenced by that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/before-a-leader-can-be-accepted-let-alone-succeed-autonomous/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [The challenge in scoring a sequel is, how do you not get bored? The only way around that one is to go, "Okay, let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/the-challenge-in-scoring-a-sequel-is-how-do-you-not-get-bored-the/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. Nothing creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brito/autonomous-people-assert-themselves-against-the-status-quo-they-don-t/) Maria Brito > [People in my organization were very outspoken about what we should be doing with the Department of Defense. One of them is work on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dean/people-in-my-organization-were-very-outspoken-about-what-we-should-be/) [Jeff Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dean/) > [My personal fascination with the power of the crowd has been growing: Exactly what can a 'crowd' accomplish? We know crowds can raise billions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/my-personal-fascination-with-the-power-of-the-crowd-has-been-growing/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [The autonomous car is definitely coming, and when that stage comes, this ride-share business becomes even more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/the-autonomous-car-is-definitely-coming-and-when-that-stage-comes/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [We only want autonomous collaborators that are incentivized to make or break their own income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/we-only-want-autonomous-collaborators-that-are-incentivized-to-make/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [We don't know what the trajectory of autonomous or linked vehicles will be, and we don't have a clear understanding on what that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/we-don-t-know-what-the-trajectory-of-autonomous-or-linked-vehicles/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [If the ongoing struggles waged by young people are to matter, demonstrations and protests must give way to more sustainable organizations that develop alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/if-the-ongoing-struggles-waged-by-young-people-are-to-matter/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [The modern world needs people with a complex identity who are intellectually autonomous and prepared to cope with uncertainty; who are able to tolerate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-havighurst/the-modern-world-needs-people-with-a-complex-identity-who-are/) [Robert J. Havighurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-havighurst/) [Browse all 187 Autonomous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What demon is our god? What name subsumes That act external to our sleeping selves? Not pleasure - it is much too broad and narrow, - Not sex, not for the moment love, but pride, And not in prowess, but pride undefined, Autonomous in its unthought demands, A bit of vanity, but mostly pride.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. V. 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