Religion and nationalism, as well as any custom and any belief however absurd and degrading, if it only connects the individual with others, are refuges from what man most dreads: isolation.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Beliefs and customs provide comfort by connecting individuals to a group, reducing the fear of isolation.
- In plain terms
- Shared beliefs help people feel less alone.
- What can you take from it?
- Community connections alleviate the fear of isolation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What fears drive us to group with others?
- Is safety worth blind adherence?
Another view
Not all connections are healthy or meaningful.
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Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves.
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