Burning in effigy. Kissing the picture of one's beloved... it aims at nothing at all; we just behave this way and then we feel satisfied. (p. 123)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Human rituals like burning effigies or kissing photos serve no practical purpose but provide emotional satisfaction.
- In plain terms
- We do certain actions just to feel better, not to achieve anything.
- What can you take from it?
- Rituals satisfy emotions without needing logical goals.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we perform actions that have no clear outcome?
- How do rituals comfort us?
Another view
It ignores that some rituals have social or historical functions beyond personal feeling.
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