Culture Quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson
“I don't want to die ... I don't want to die poor. Two great motivators in the history of human cultures.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public talk, Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2015
Fear of death and poverty drive human ambition and cultural development.
In simple terms: Death and poverty motivate achievement.
Key Takeaway
Channel fear into purposeful action.
Themes
motivation
existential
culture
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- financial planning
- legacy projects
- personal development
Key Concepts
psychology
sociology
human behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fear shape your goals?
- What positive actions arise from these fears?
A Different Perspective
Fear can also paralyze.
![“I always keep moments that were defining for me in my past and challenged me in my past - from getting evicted out of my apartment when I was 14 years old, to being cut from the CFL [Canadian Football League] and only having 7 bucks in my pocket, to bouts with depression - I keep moments like that…” quote by Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7df/dwayne-johnson-1126_apartment_i-always-keep-moments-that-were-defining_2661846.jpg)
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
