Brethren Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“How many of our virtues originate in the fear of Death & that while we flatter ourselves that we are melting in Christian Sensibility over the sorrows of our human Brethren and Sisteren, we are in fact, tho' perhaps unconsciously, moved at the prospect of our own End for who sincerely pities Sea-sickness, Toothache, or a fit of the Gout in a lusty Good-liver of 50?”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", 1798
Our virtues often stem from fear of death, prompting empathy for others' suffering even when we mask it with cultural sensibilities.
In simple terms: Fear of death drives moral behavior.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge fear to deepen compassion.
Themes
mortality
empathy
virtue
Mood
thoughtful
somber
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- care for the sick
- volunteering
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What fears shape your moral choices?
- How does awareness of mortality affect your empathy?
A Different Perspective
Fear can also lead to selfish avoidance of mortality.
