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.
The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things: bread and circuses!
Our chaotic, confused world has no greater need than to hear the message of good news - the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He had fought back with every weapon in his arsenal, being alternatively obtuse, evasive and pedantic, for it was wonderful how you could obscure an emotional issue by appearing to seek precision.
What I am trying to teach is that when we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent.
Men that look no further than their outsides, think health an appurtenance unto life, and quarrel with their constitutions for being sick; but I that have examined the parts of man, and know upon what tender filaments that fabric hangs, do wonder that we are not always so; and considering the thousand doors that lead to death, do thank my God that we can die but once.
It is a great advantage for a system of philosophy to be substantially true.
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