Poverty in itself does not make men into a rabble; a rabble is created only when there is joined to poverty a disposition of mind, an inner indignation against the rich, against society, against the government.
Interpretation
Poverty alone does not lead to chaos; it is the mindset of resentment and anger towards others that creates unrest.
In this quote, Hegel emphasizes that poverty, while a difficult circumstance, does not inherently lead to social disorder or a 'rabble'. Instead, it is the negative mindset, characterized by anger and indignation towards the affluent and societal structures, that fosters a collective unrest. By distinguishing between the condition of poverty and the psychological response to it, Hegel underscores the importance of attitude in shaping social dynamics.
In practice
In a discussion about social justice, one might quote Hegel to emphasize that mindset can influence social unrest.
The true courage of civilized nations is readiness for sacrifice in the service of the state, so that the individual counts as only one amongst many. The important thing here is not personal mettle but aligning oneself with the universal.
The East knew and to the present day knows only that One is Free; the Greek and the Roman world, that some are free; the German World knows that All are free. The first political form therefore which we observe in History, is Despotism, the second Democracy and Aristocracy, the third, Monarchy.
Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.
Every idea, extended into infinity, becomes its own opposite.
If we go on to cast a look at the fate of these World-Historical persons, whose vocation it was to be the agents of the World-Spirit, we shall find it to have been no happy one. They attained no calm enjoyment; their whole life was labour and trouble; their whole nature was nought else but their master—passion. When their object is attained they fall off like empty hulls from the kernel. They die early, like Alexander; they are murdered, like Caesar.
When individuals and nations have once got in their heads the abstract concept of full-blown liberty, there is nothing like it in its uncontrollable strength.
Learning to weep, learning to keep vigil, learning to wait for the dawn. Perhaps this is what it means to be human.
Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness a more humane society will not emerge.
Whoever lives among many evils just as I, how can dying not be a source of gain?
To affirm that God is God is to want to live in a particular way.
What an awful thing life is, isn’t it? It’s like soup with lots of hairs floating on the surface. You have to eat it nevertheless.
I've said this over and over, but I'll say it a million more times - I'm concerned more about the death of a bee than I am about terrorism. Because we're losing hives and bees by the millions because of such strong pesticides.
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