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About this quote

What does it mean?
The poor fighting for survival feel purposeful because their struggle is concrete and immediate.
In plain terms
Struggling to live gives a clear sense of purpose.
What can you take from it?
Survival struggles can create immediate purpose.

Where it applies

  • crisis
  • hardship
  • economic struggle

Putting it to work

  • find concrete tasks
  • focus on survival
  • avoid abstract worries

Questions to consider

  • Why does struggle create meaning?
  • Is purpose found in survival?

Another view

It romanticizes poverty as inherently purposeful.

More from Eric Hoffer

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  3. There is a fundamental difference between the appeal of a mass movement and the appeal of a practical organization. The practical organization offers opportuni…

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