Body Quote by Thomas Merton
“We live in a society whose whole policy is to excite every nerve in the human body and keep it at the highest pitch of artificial tension, to strain every human desire to the limit and to create as many new desires and synthetic passions as possible, in order to cater to them with the products of our factories and printing presses and movie studios and all the rest.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Culture of Anxiety, Thomas Merton, 1965
Modern society deliberately heightens desire and tension, feeding endless consumerism and synthetic passions.
In simple terms: Society fuels endless desire and tension.
Key Takeaway
Seek simplicity, limit artificial cravings.
Themes
consumerism
artificial desire
modernity
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marketing strategies
- personal stress
- media consumption
Key Concepts
psychology of desire
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you recognize authentic vs. synthetic desire?
- What small steps reduce artificial tension?
A Different Perspective
Not all desire is harmful; some drives progress.
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