--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The stakes in this game are not low. Our…" description: "\"“The stakes in this game are not low. Our enterprise is no less than the introduction of an alternative language, and with the language an altered pers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_the-stakes-in-this-game-are-not-low-our_1151599.jpg" --- # The stakes in this game are not low. Our enterprise is no… ![“The stakes in this game are not low. Our enterprise is no less than the introduction of an alternative language, and with the language an altered perspective, for a group of phenomena that tradition tended to refer to with such words as 'spirituality', 'piety', 'morality', 'ethics' and…” quote by Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_the-stakes-in-this-game-are-not-low-our_1151599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_the-stakes-in-this-game-are-not-low-our_1151599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/peter-sloterdijk-8761_asceticism_the-stakes-in-this-game-are-not-low-our_1151599.jpg) > ““The stakes in this game are not low. Our enterprise is no less than the introduction of an alternative language, and with the language an altered perspective, for a group of phenomena that tradition tended to refer to with such words as 'spirituality', 'piety', 'morality', 'ethics' and 'asceticism'. If the manoeuvre succeeds, the conventional concept of religion, that ill-fated bugbear from the prop studios of modern Europe, will emerge from these investigations as the great loser. Certainly intellectual history has always resembled a refuge for malformed concepts - and after the following journey through the various stations, one will not only see through the concept of 'religion' in its failed design, a concept whose crookedness is second only to the hyper-bugbear that is 'culture'.”” [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that redefining language and perspective can dismantle traditional concepts of religion, spirituality, and morality, exposing them as cultural constructs. **In simple terms:** Changing language can change how we view religion and morality. Key Takeaway Question how language shapes belief systems. Themes philosophy religion culture language critical theory Mood introspective critical provocative Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academic debate - public policy - education - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts constructionism deconstruction semiotics Questions to Reflect On - How does language influence your perception of religion? - Can redefining terms alter societal values? A Different Perspective May overlook personal spiritual experiences that resist purely linguistic analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asceticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asceticism/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Young people all over the world are very frustrated. They are very disillusioned. Many of them are turning their backs on religion. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/young-people-all-over-the-world-are-very-frustrated-they-are-very/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [Oh, I don't think religion has failed. It's man who has failed. Christ hasn't failed. The Gospel hasn't failed. The teachings of God have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/oh-i-don-t-think-religion-has-failed-it-s-man-who-has-failed-christ/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“It’s true that if your religion failed to deliver a miracle, that a human sacrifice would certainly follow." "Ah...quite. You are a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/it-s-true-that-if-your-religion-failed-to-deliver-a-miracle-that-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Religion has failed us. Christ was not a Christian. Buddha was not a Buddhist. Mohammed was not a Mohammedan. And yet ever since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/religion-has-failed-us-christ-was-not-a-christian-buddha-was-not-a/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Art failed death as much as religion failed life, leaving me un prepared for either”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-haslam/art-failed-death-as-much-as-religion-failed-life-leaving-me-un/) Chris Haslam > [“Consequently, immune systems at this level can be defined a priori as embodied expectations of injury and the corresponding programmes of protection and repair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/consequently-immune-systems-at-this-level-can-be-defined-a-priori-as/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In this book, we will naturally be dealing primarily with the manifestations of the third level of immunity. I gather material on the biography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-this-book-we-will-naturally-be-dealing-primarily-with-the/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“The hero of the following account, Homo immunologicus, who must give his life, with all its dangers and surfeits, a symbolic framework, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/the-hero-of-the-following-account-homo-immunologicus-who-must-give/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“But if man genuinely produces man, it is precisely not through work and it's concrete results, not even the 'work on oneself' so widely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/but-if-man-genuinely-produces-man-it-is-precisely-not-through-work/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his treatise on the battles between the gods underlying ancient Dionysian theatre, the young Nietzsche notes: 'Alas! The magic of these struggles is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-treatise-on-the-battles-between-the-gods-underlying-ancient/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In truth, the crossing from nature to culture and vice versa has always stood wide open. It leads across an easily accessible bridge: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-truth-the-crossing-from-nature-to-culture-and-vice-versa-has/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In the wake of his new division of ascetic opinion, Nietzsche not only stumbles upon the fundamental meaning of the practising life for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-the-wake-of-his-new-division-of-ascetic-opinion-nietzsche-not-only/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Something is indeed returning today - but the conventional wisdom that this is religion making its reappearance is insufficient to satisfy critical inquiries. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/something-is-indeed-returning-today-but-the-conventional-wisdom-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Viewed in this light, life itself appears as a dynamics of integration that is equipped with auto-therapeutic or 'endo-clinical' competencies and refers to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/viewed-in-this-light-life-itself-appears-as-a-dynamics-of-integration/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“The ascetic planet he sights is the planet of the practising as a whole, the planet of advanced-civilized humans, the planet of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/the-ascetic-planet-he-sights-is-the-planet-of-the-practising-as-a/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) ## More by Peter Sloterdijk > [“Cultural criticism always attacks the mass media. I don't think that makes sense. We should look more closely at the work of deformation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/cultural-criticism-always-attacks-the-mass-media-i-don-t-think-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“A completely different aspect, however, the thoroughly incommensurable one, lies in the imposition of accepting that the torso sees me while I observe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/a-completely-different-aspect-however-the-thoroughly-incommensurable/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [Ventilation is the profound secret of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/ventilation-is-the-profound-secret-of-existence/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In this book, we will naturally be dealing primarily with the manifestations of the third level of immunity. I gather material on the biography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-this-book-we-will-naturally-be-dealing-primarily-with-the/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“As in the days of the first Merovingian, who pledged allegiance to the cross because of a victorious battle, today's children of the banalized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/as-in-the-days-of-the-first-merovingian-who-pledged-allegiance-to-the/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his treatise on the battles between the gods underlying ancient Dionysian theatre, the young Nietzsche notes: 'Alas! The magic of these struggles is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-treatise-on-the-battles-between-the-gods-underlying-ancient/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“It is not sufficient, he emphasized, to colour (colorare) the mind with wisdom; it must be pickled (macerare) in it, as it were, soaked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/it-is-not-sufficient-he-emphasized-to-colour-colorare-the-mind-with/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“What appears in the former statue of Apollo, however, cannot simply be equated with the Olympian of the same name, who had to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/what-appears-in-the-former-statue-of-apollo-however-cannot-simply-be/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“This much should be clear by now: the term 'renaissance' can only remain fruitful and demanding as long as it refers to a far-reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/this-much-should-be-clear-by-now-the-term-renaissance-can-only-remain/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“As the following pages deal with the practising life, they lead - in accordance with their topic - to an expedition into the little-explored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/as-the-following-pages-deal-with-the-practising-life-they-lead-in/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Something is indeed returning today - but the conventional wisdom that this is religion making its reappearance is insufficient to satisfy critical inquiries. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/something-is-indeed-returning-today-but-the-conventional-wisdom-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“Here we should quote especially those sections from Nietzsche's central morality-critical work The Genealogy of Morals that deal with their subject in a diction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/here-we-should-quote-especially-those-sections-from-nietzsche-s/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“In his field, and with his means, Rilke carries out an operation that one could philosophically describe as the 'transformation of being into message'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-field-and-with-his-means-rilke-carries-out-an-operation-that/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [“This background enables us to understand a fact that is symptomatic of the current phase of saturation: there are countless people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/this-background-enables-us-to-understand-a-fact-that-is-symptomatic/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [ “\[Nietzsche's\] questions - transcend, but where to; ascend, but to what height? - would have answered themselves if he had calmly kept both feet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/nietzsche-s-questions-transcend-but-where-to-ascend-but-to-what/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) [Explore all 71 Peter Sloterdijk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) ## More Asceticism quotes > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The beauty of a cuckoo is in its notes, that of a woman in her unalloyed devotion to her husband, that of an ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-beauty-of-a-cuckoo-is-in-its-notes-that-of-a-woman-in-her/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The principle of asceticism never was, nor ever can be, consistently pursued by any living creature. Let but one tenth part of the inhabitants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-principle-of-asceticism-never-was-nor-ever-can-be-consistently/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [“In his treatise on the battles between the gods underlying ancient Dionysian theatre, the young Nietzsche notes: 'Alas! The magic of these struggles is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sloterdijk/in-his-treatise-on-the-battles-between-the-gods-underlying-ancient/) [Peter Sloterdijk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sloterdijk/) > [Catholicism is not ritualism; it may in the future be fighting some sort of superstitious and idolatrous exaggeration of ritual. Catholicism is not asceticism;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/catholicism-is-not-ritualism-it-may-in-the-future-be-fighting-some/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“A Christian who practices asceticism trains himself to say no to his desires and yes to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/a-christian-who-practices-asceticism-trains-himself-to-say-no-to-his/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [The main motive for nonattachment is a desire to escape from the pain of living, and above all from love, which, sexual or non-sexual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-main-motive-for-nonattachment-is-a-desire-to-escape-from-the-pain/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Dieting is our last tie with asceticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/dieting-is-our-last-tie-with-asceticism/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [When you reach your sixties, you have to decide whether you're going to be a sot or an ascetic. In other words if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/when-you-reach-your-sixties-you-have-to-decide-whether-you-re-going/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Everybody who does not live in a prostitute's bed and on a diet of cocaine snow is called an ascetic nowadays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/everybody-who-does-not-live-in-a-prostitute-s-bed-and-on-a-diet-of/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Genuine asceticism for finding one's own soul and for the good of humanity is worthy of reverence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rama-swami/genuine-asceticism-for-finding-one-s-own-soul-and-for-the-good-of/) [Rama Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rama-swami/) > [Many modern scholars have found the asceticism expressed in Plato unacceptable; it does not sound like the advice of a reasonable man in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcevilley/many-modern-scholars-have-found-the-asceticism-expressed-in-plato/) [Thomas McEvilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcevilley/) > [The dunyâ distracts and preoccupies the heart and body, but al-zuhd (asceticism, not giving importance to worldly things) gives rest to the heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-of-basra/the-duny-distracts-and-preoccupies-the-heart-and-body-but-al-zuhd/) [Hasan of Basra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-of-basra/) > [Asceticism is the right way of thinking for those who have to extirpate their sensual drives because they are ravening beasts of prey. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/asceticism-is-the-right-way-of-thinking-for-those-who-have-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 113 Asceticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asceticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The stakes in this game are not low. Our enterprise is no less than the introduction of an alternative language, and with the language an altered perspective, for a group of phenomena that tradition tended to refer to with such words as 'spirituality', 'piety', 'morality', 'ethics' and 'asceticism'. If the manoeuvre succeeds, the conventional concept of religion, that ill-fated bugbear from the prop studios of modern Europe, will emerge from these investigations as the great loser. 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