Man's chief goal in life is still to become and stay human, and defend his achievements against the encroachment of nature.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's humanity and values in the face of natural challenges.
Eric Hoffer articulates a profound observation about the human condition, suggesting that despite the progress and achievements made in life, the ultimate goal remains to uphold our humanity. He warns against allowing the forces of nature to overshadow our human accomplishments and virtues, indicating a constant struggle to preserve what makes us uniquely human amidst external pressures.
In practice
In a motivational speech, to encourage others to prioritize their humanity over material successes.
Language was invented to ask questions. Answers may be given by grunts and gestures, but questions must be spoken. Humanness came of age when man asked the first question. Social stagnation results not from a lack of answers but from the absence of the impulse to ask questions.
Faith in humanity, in posterity, in the destiny of one's religion, nation, race, party or family-what is it but the visualization of that eternal something to which we attach the self that is about to be annihilated?
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.
Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about.
Perhaps a modern society can remain stable only by eliminating adolescence, by giving its young, from the age of ten, the skills, responsibilities, and rewards of grownups, and opportunities for action in all spheres of life. Adolescence should be a time of useful action, while book learning and scholarship should be a preoccupation of adults.
Personally of course I regret everything. Not a word, not a deed, not a thought, not a need, not a grief, not a joy, not a girl, not a boy, not a doubt, not a trust, not a scorn, not a lust, not a hope, not a fear, not a smile, not a tear, not a name, not a face, no time, no place...that I do not regret, exceedingly. An ordure, from beginning to end.
Cease being a prisoner of the body; using the secret key of Kriya, learn to escape into Spirit.
I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.
That's what kept us going - a sense of absurdity, rather than humor.
Individually, men may present a more or less rational appearance, eating, sleeping, and scheming. But humanity a a whole is changeful, mystical, fickle, delightful. Men are men, but Man is a woman.
An independent state does not pay too dear a price for its independence in accepting the sufferings of war when it cannot avoid them; a state which has lost its independence may find at least some compensation in the fact that its protector procures for it peace with its neighbours.
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