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About this quote

What does it mean?
Fear and hierarchy cannot exist in people who are starving or desperate.
In plain terms
Hunger makes people ignore rules or fear because they need to survive.
What can you take from it?
Basic survival needs override social order and fear.

Where it applies

  • civil unrest
  • famine
  • prison conditions

Putting it to work

  • address basic needs first
  • understand root causes of unrest

Questions to consider

  • What truly motivates people in crisis?
  • Can order exist without food security?

Another view

Some may still fear authority even when hungry.

More from Napoleon Bonaparte

  1. There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.

    Permalink to quote #180
  2. There is no greater misfortune for a man than to be governed by his wife: in such case he is neither himself nor his wife, he is a perfect nonentity.

    Permalink to quote #182
  3. There are calumnies against which even innocence loses courage.

    Permalink to quote #179

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