Moral obligation is to me so very strong a Stimulant, that in 9 cases out of ten it acts as a Narcotic. The Blow that should rouse, stuns me.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Moral obligation feels so strong it numbs the speaker instead of motivating action.
- In plain terms
- Feeling obliged to be good paralyzes me.
- What can you take from it?
- Too much duty can deaden motivation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What truly moves you?
- Does duty motivate or numb?
Another view
Duty often works for others.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
He has no native Passion, because he is not a Thinker - & has probably weakened his Intellect by the haunting Fear of becoming extravagant.
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