Attention Quote by Robert Bly
“Hierarchy, as in the Catholic Church, has to do with power, and vertical attention has to do with longing.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Lost Language of Music, Robert Bly, 1991
Power structures shape desire, and yearning focuses attention upward within hierarchies.
In simple terms: Power creates longing for higher status.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how hierarchy influences your aspirations.
Themes
power
longing
hierarchy
attention
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- religious institutions
- family dynamics
- political movements
Key Concepts
sociology
psychology
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does hierarchy affect your personal goals?
- What alternatives to vertical attention exist?
A Different Perspective
Power can also suppress individual autonomy and foster resentment.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
