--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It does, however, seem to me that…" description: "\"“It does, however, seem to me that fashionable Western self-loathing is fundamentally misplaced. Almost always it is directed at the fact of our wealth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg" --- # It does, however, seem to me that fashionable Western… ![“It does, however, seem to me that fashionable Western self-loathing is fundamentally misplaced. Almost always it is directed at the fact of our wealth and power, relative to the other peoples of the earth, with the constant, quasi-Marxist (and false) assumption that the wealth must somehow…” quote by Meic Pearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg) > ““It does, however, seem to me that fashionable Western self-loathing is fundamentally misplaced. Almost always it is directed at the fact of our wealth and power, relative to the other peoples of the earth, with the constant, quasi-Marxist (and false) assumption that the wealth must somehow inevitably be stolen from the poor, as if the economic pie were of a fixed size and economics a zero-sum game. Really, a decade and a half after the fall of communism, do we still need to go on disproving this? Our vast wealth does, indeed, impose upon us equally vast responsibilities toward those who remain in poverty. It is the real strengths of the West that created that wealth and that, tentatively and in humility, need to be proffered to those who could profit from them. The self-loathing, however, should be redirected from the mere fact of our prosperity to the disconnection, boredom, feeble-mindedness and infantilism that we have allowed our wealth to let us slip into. The unprecedented comfort of our lives allows us, if we are not careful—and we have not been careful—to lose hold of the fundamental realities that underpin all human existence.”” Meic Pearse ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western wealth leads to responsibility; self‑criticism should target complacency, not prosperity. **In simple terms:** We must use wealth responsibly, not resent it. Key Takeaway Redirect self‑criticism toward meaningful action. Themes wealth responsibility self‑criticism ethical use global inequality Mood thoughtful critical Type Human existence:1 Wealth:1 Western Self:1 Communism Need:1 Wealth Inevitably:1 Quasi Marxist:1 When to use this quote - philanthropy - policy advocacy - personal finance - education programs Key Concepts moral philosophy social justice economic ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals responsibly wield wealth? - What societal shifts reduce inequality? A Different Perspective Wealth alone cannot solve systemic poverty; structural change needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Without a single shot we've managed to liberate the world of communism but now there is a need for a global solidarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/without-a-single-shot-we-ve-managed-to-liberate-the-world-of/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [Liberals are concerned about the concentration of wealth because it almost inevitably leads to a concentration of power that undermines democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/liberals-are-concerned-about-the-concentration-of-wealth-because-it/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-greatest-issue-facing-the-world-today-with-all-its-heartbreaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Indeed, the only truly serious questions are ones that even a child can formulate. Only the most naïve of questions are truly serious. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/indeed-the-only-truly-serious-questions-are-ones-that-even-a-child/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Change is one of the scariest things in the world and yet it is also one of those variables of human existence that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/change-is-one-of-the-scariest-things-in-the-world-and-yet-it-is-also/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [Only a literary work that reveals an unknown fragment of human existence has a reason for being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/only-a-literary-work-that-reveals-an-unknown-fragment-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“In Hobbes’ state of nature, when a male individual conquers (contracts with) a female individual he becomes her sexual master and she becomes his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-pateman/in-hobbes-state-of-nature-when-a-male-individual-conquers-contracts/) [Carole Pateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-pateman/) > [“I do not give a damn whether a person is a scientist, a philosopher or a theologian If that person cannot recognize the basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-do-not-give-a-damn-whether-a-person-is-a-scientist-a-philosopher-or/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“It is those who have compassion for all life who will best safeguard the life of man. Those who become aroused only when man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/it-is-those-who-have-compassion-for-all-life-who-will-best-safeguard/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [“The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-representation-of-women-in-the-society-especially-through-mass/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The one function that most gods seem to have in common is to give human existence some ultimate purpose - and, while it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/the-one-function-that-most-gods-seem-to-have-in-common-is-to-give/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) > [It is merely the egoism of the man, who wants to bury a woman like a treasure. All attempts at using vows, contracts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/it-is-merely-the-egoism-of-the-man-who-wants-to-bury-a-woman-like-a/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Meic Pearse > [“The truth is that we, in our hyperprosperity, may be able to live without meaning, faith or purpose, filling our threescore years and ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meic-pearse/the-truth-is-that-we-in-our-hyperprosperity-may-be-able-to-live/) Meic Pearse Explore all 2 Meic Pearse quotes ## More Human existence quotes > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is merely the egoism of the man, who wants to bury a woman like a treasure. All attempts at using vows, contracts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/it-is-merely-the-egoism-of-the-man-who-wants-to-bury-a-woman-like-a/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [The one function that most gods seem to have in common is to give human existence some ultimate purpose - and, while it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/the-one-function-that-most-gods-seem-to-have-in-common-is-to-give/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) > [“The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-representation-of-women-in-the-society-especially-through-mass/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“It is those who have compassion for all life who will best safeguard the life of man. Those who become aroused only when man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/it-is-those-who-have-compassion-for-all-life-who-will-best-safeguard/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [“I do not give a damn whether a person is a scientist, a philosopher or a theologian If that person cannot recognize the basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-do-not-give-a-damn-whether-a-person-is-a-scientist-a-philosopher-or/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“In Hobbes’ state of nature, when a male individual conquers (contracts with) a female individual he becomes her sexual master and she becomes his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-pateman/in-hobbes-state-of-nature-when-a-male-individual-conquers-contracts/) [Carole Pateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-pateman/) > [Only a literary work that reveals an unknown fragment of human existence has a reason for being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/only-a-literary-work-that-reveals-an-unknown-fragment-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Change is one of the scariest things in the world and yet it is also one of those variables of human existence that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/change-is-one-of-the-scariest-things-in-the-world-and-yet-it-is-also/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [“Indeed, the only truly serious questions are ones that even a child can formulate. Only the most naïve of questions are truly serious. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/indeed-the-only-truly-serious-questions-are-ones-that-even-a-child/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-greatest-issue-facing-the-world-today-with-all-its-heartbreaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [If man did not exist as a world-spanning receptive realm of perception, if he were not engaged in this capacity, nothing at all could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medard-boss/if-man-did-not-exist-as-a-world-spanning-receptive-realm-of/) [Medard Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medard-boss/) > [“Finally, she mused that human existence is as brief as the life of autumn grass, so what was there to fear from taking chances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/finally-she-mused-that-human-existence-is-as-brief-as-the-life-of/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) [Browse all 554 Human existence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It does, however, seem to me that fashionable Western self-loathing is fundamentally misplaced. Almost always it is directed at the fact of our wealth and power, relative to the other peoples of the earth, with the constant, quasi-Marxist (and false) assumption that the wealth must somehow inevitably be stolen from the poor, as if the economic pie were of a fixed size and economics a zero-sum game. Really, a decade and a half after the fall of communism, do we still need to go on disproving this? Our vast wealth does, indeed, impose upon us equally vast responsibilities toward those who remain in poverty. It is the real strengths of the West that created that wealth and that, tentatively and in humility, need to be proffered to those who could profit from them. The self-loathing, however, should be redirected from the mere fact of our prosperity to the disconnection, boredom, feeble-mindedness and infantilism that we have allowed our wealth to let us slip into. The unprecedented comfort of our lives allows us, if we are not careful—and we have not been careful—to lose hold of the fundamental realities that underpin all human existence.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meic Pearse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meic-pearse/it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashionable-western-self-loathing-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Human existence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meic-pearse/it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashionable-western-self-loathing-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59d/meic-pearse-97505_human-existence_it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashiona_633122.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It does, however, seem to me that fashionable Western self-loathing is fundamentally misplaced. Almost…” — Meic Pearse", "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": "Meic Pearse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meic-pearse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It does, however, seem to me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meic-pearse/it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashionable-western-self-loathing-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meic-pearse/it-does-however-seem-to-me-that-fashionable-western-self-loathing-is/#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 } } ] } ```