---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not simply to show power...that a…"
description: "\"“It is not simply to show power...that a man...throws coppers into the sea...In doing this he is also sacrificing to the gods and spirits...”\" — Marcel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg"
---

#  It is not simply to show power...that a man...throws…

![“It is not simply to show power...that a man...throws coppers into the sea...In doing this he is also sacrificing to the gods and spirits...” quote by Marcel Mauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg)

> ““It is not simply to show power...that a man...throws coppers into the sea...In doing this he is also sacrificing to the gods and spirits...””

Marcel Mauss

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Offering valuables to the sea is a ritual sacrifice to appease divine forces.

**In simple terms:** Ritual sacrifice to gods.

Key Takeaway

Respect cultural rituals.

Themes

rituals spirituality economics

Mood

reverent inquisitive

Type

academic cultural

When to use this quote

- ceremonies
- studies
- community gatherings

Key Concepts

anthropology symbolism exchange

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do societies sacrifice?
- What does this reveal about values?

A Different Perspective

Modern relevance may be limited.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Sacrificing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrificing/)

## Related quotes

> [The world of gods and spirits is truly 'nothing but' the collective unconscious inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-world-of-gods-and-spirits-is-truly-nothing-but-the-collective/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [“Look, life is only comprehensible through a thousand local gods... spirits of certain trees, of certain curves of brick walls, of certain fish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/look-life-is-only-comprehensible-through-a-thousand-local-gods/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/i-do-not-concern-myself-with-gods-and-spirits-either-good-or-evil-nor/)

[Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/)

> [“It seemed that every city and town they'd passed through on the way to Herath venerated different gods and spirits. How to know which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-hutson/it-seemed-that-every-city-and-town-they-d-passed-through-on-the-way/)

[Alec Hutson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-hutson/)

> [It is possible that strong levels of belief in God, gods, spirits or the supernatural might have given our ancestors considerable comforts and advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/it-is-possible-that-strong-levels-of-belief-in-god-gods-spirits-or/)

[Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/)

> [“open societies will once again be urged to close in upon themselves, sacrificing freedom for ‘security’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/open-societies-will-once-again-be-urged-to-close-in-upon-themselves/)

[Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/)

> [Sacrificing everything for one's craft is something some people can't help. They can't help themselves. They must do it. They're driven to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-johnson/sacrificing-everything-for-one-s-craft-is-something-some-people-can-t/)

[Joyce Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-johnson/)

> [If it came to saving the life of one priest or sacrificing the life of an entire congregation, the church would save the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-walton/if-it-came-to-saving-the-life-of-one-priest-or-sacrificing-the-life/)

[Rob Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-walton/)

> [“It would be useless to tell him that I'm done sacrificing other people for my own gain. I won't whip innocent kitchen workers, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/it-would-be-useless-to-tell-him-that-i-m-done-sacrificing-other/)

[Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/)

> [Many schools today are sacrificing social studies, the arts and physical education so children can cover basic subjects like math, English and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/many-schools-today-are-sacrificing-social-studies-the-arts-and/)

[Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/)

> [Every time that we try to lift a problem from our own shoulders, and shift that problem to the hands of the government, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/every-time-that-we-try-to-lift-a-problem-from-our-own-shoulders-and/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [“Love never lives on a one-way street, for it will always come back up the road bigger than how we had sent it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/love-never-lives-on-a-one-way-street-for-it-will-always-come-back-up/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/nothing-can-be-attained-without-suffering-but-at-the-same-time-one/)

[G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/)

> [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/)

[Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/)

> [Today, society is sacrificing love, values and dharma in its pursuit of materialistic gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/today-society-is-sacrificing-love-values-and-dharma-in-its-pursuit-of/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

## More Sacrificing quotes

> [Today, society is sacrificing love, values and dharma in its pursuit of materialistic gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/today-society-is-sacrificing-love-values-and-dharma-in-its-pursuit-of/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [One of the great issues in biology is the origin of altruism - of why you would do something for someone else that could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/one-of-the-great-issues-in-biology-is-the-origin-of-altruism-of-why/)

[Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/)

> [Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/nothing-can-be-attained-without-suffering-but-at-the-same-time-one/)

[G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/)

> [“Love never lives on a one-way street, for it will always come back up the road bigger than how we had sent it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/love-never-lives-on-a-one-way-street-for-it-will-always-come-back-up/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [Every time that we try to lift a problem from our own shoulders, and shift that problem to the hands of the government, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/every-time-that-we-try-to-lift-a-problem-from-our-own-shoulders-and/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Many schools today are sacrificing social studies, the arts and physical education so children can cover basic subjects like math, English and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/many-schools-today-are-sacrificing-social-studies-the-arts-and/)

[Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/)

> [“It would be useless to tell him that I'm done sacrificing other people for my own gain. I won't whip innocent kitchen workers, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/it-would-be-useless-to-tell-him-that-i-m-done-sacrificing-other/)

[Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/)

> [If it came to saving the life of one priest or sacrificing the life of an entire congregation, the church would save the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-walton/if-it-came-to-saving-the-life-of-one-priest-or-sacrificing-the-life/)

[Rob Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-walton/)

> [Sacrificing everything for one's craft is something some people can't help. They can't help themselves. They must do it. They're driven to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-johnson/sacrificing-everything-for-one-s-craft-is-something-some-people-can-t/)

[Joyce Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-johnson/)

> [“open societies will once again be urged to close in upon themselves, sacrificing freedom for ‘security’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/open-societies-will-once-again-be-urged-to-close-in-upon-themselves/)

[Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/)

> [Love is sacrificing everything for the one you love no matter what the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/love-is-sacrificing-everything-for-the-one-you-love-no-matter-what/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/there-are-still-many-causes-worth-sacrificing-for-so-much-history-yet/)

[Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/)

> [The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-world-is-perishing-from-an-orgy-of-self-sacrificing/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [“I'd sometimes pictured myself bravely sacrificing my life to save another, but my preference had always been that it be someone I actually liked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahtzee-croshaw/i-d-sometimes-pictured-myself-bravely-sacrificing-my-life-to-save/)

[Yahtzee Croshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahtzee-croshaw/)

> [“Laying down one's life to inflict pain on others is not praiseworthy or courageous. Sacrificing oneself to ease the pain of others is true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-krishan/laying-down-one-s-life-to-inflict-pain-on-others-is-not-praiseworthy/)

Anita Krishan

[Browse all 140 Sacrificing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrificing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It is not simply to show power...that a man...throws coppers into the sea...In doing this he is also sacrificing to the gods and spirits...”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marcel Mauss"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-mauss/it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-man-throws-coppers-into-the-sea/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Sacrificing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-mauss/it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-man-throws-coppers-into-the-sea/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/marcel-mauss-259368_quote_it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-ma_1790570.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is not simply to show power...that a man...throws coppers into the sea...In doing this he is also…” — Marcel Mauss",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Marcel Mauss",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-mauss/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It is not simply to show...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-mauss/it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-man-throws-coppers-into-the-sea/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-mauss/it-is-not-simply-to-show-power-that-a-man-throws-coppers-into-the-sea/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```