Deprived Quote by Theodore Roszak
““Deprived of bread or the equal benefits of the commonwealth, the person shrivels. Obviously. And that is a clear line to fight on. But when the transcendent energies waste away, then too the person shrivels--though far less obviously. Their loss is suffered in privacy and bewildered silence; it is easily submerged in affluence, entertaining diversions, and adjustive therapy. Well fed and fashionably dressed, surrounded by every manner of mechanical convenience and with our credit rating in good order, we may even be ashamed to feel we have any problem at all.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Making of a Counterculture, 1970
Material comfort can mask deep spiritual and social deprivation, leading to hidden suffering despite outward success.
In simple terms: Wealth can hide inner emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden needs beyond material wealth.
Themes
materialism
spiritual poverty
social critique
Mood
melancholic
critical
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- wealth accumulation
Key Concepts
existential alienation
consumer culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What needs are you ignoring?
- How can you address hidden suffering?
A Different Perspective
Comfort can blind us to deeper issues.
![“... deprived of pain, and also deprived of danger, able to do what it wants, [Nature] does not need us, nor understands our deserts, and it cannot be angry.” quote by Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/45d/lucretius-1632_able_deprived-of-pain-and-also-deprived-of-da_83651.jpg)
![“Environmentalists, by and large, are very deeply invested in tactics that have worked to their satisfaction over the last thirty years, namely scaring and shaming people… I am questioning whether you can go on doing that indefinitely ... [pushing] that same fear-guilt button over and over again…” quote by Theodore Roszak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/21c/theodore-roszak-37157_addiction_environmentalists-by-and-large-are-very_591242.jpg)
