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About this quote

What does it mean?
Society shows care for the physical body but ignores the profound harm done to the mind.
In plain terms
People protect bodies but ignore harm to minds.
What can you take from it?
Value mental integrity as much as physical safety.

Where it applies

  • mental health care
  • education
  • media consumption

Putting it to work

  • prioritize mental well-being
  • protect against mental manipulation

Questions to consider

  • How much do you value your mental space?
  • When did you last protect your mind as carefully as your body?

Another view

Physical safety is often a prerequisite for mental health.

More from Eric Hoffer

  1. We have perhaps a natural fear of ends. We would rather be always on the way than arrive. Given the means, we hang on to them and often forget the ends.

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  2. We run fastest and farthest when we run from ourselves.

    Permalink to quote #222
  3. We clamor for equality chiefly in matters in which we ourselves cannot hope to attain excellence. To discover what a man truly craves but knows he cannot have …

    Permalink to quote #219

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