Absence Quote by Simone de Beauvoir
“I was struck by the absence, even among very young boys and girls, of any interior motivation; they were incapable of thinking, of inventing, of imagining, of choosing, of deciding for themselves; this incapacity was expressed by their conformism; in every domain of life they employed only the abstract measure of money, because they were unable to trust to their own judgment.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Second Sex, 1949
Young people lack intrinsic motivation, defaulting to external measures like money, showing conformity and distrust in personal judgment.
In simple terms: Youth often follow money, lacking inner drive.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑trust and intrinsic goals.
Themes
conformity
motivation
trust
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- schooling
- career choices
- personal development
Key Concepts
existentialism
education
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster internal motivation in youth?
- What role does education play in developing judgment?
A Different Perspective
External rewards can sometimes motivate positive change.
![“[American] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern of daily life and thought. Whether this will happen or not, and if it does to what degree, is partly dependent on the power of resistance in…” quote by Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9c1/paul-tillich-3183_collectivism_american-conformism-might-approximate-co_52875.jpg)
