Adult life Quote by Joshua Fields Millburn
““In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And the compelling reason for maybe choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never feel you have enough. Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally grieve you. Worship power, you will end up feeling weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to numb you to your own fear. Worship your intellect, you will end up feeling like a fraud, always on the verge of being found out.” —David Foster Wallace, This Is Water””
About This Quote
Source Speech: This Is Water, 2005
The quote argues that everyone worships something, and the objects of worship shape our fulfillment or suffering; choosing a higher purpose can protect against being consumed by material or egoistic pursuits.
In simple terms: Everyone worships something; choosing what to worship matters.
Key Takeaway
Choose values that sustain rather than consume you.
Themes
purpose
values
spirituality
materialism
identity
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- relationships
- personal growth
- financial planning
- health and
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What do you currently worship?
- How might shifting your focus change your experience?
A Different Perspective
Worship of any object can become a trap, leading to endless dissatisfaction.
