The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.
Saul AlinskyRead
Once you accept your own death, all of a sudden you're free to live. You no longer care about your reputation. You no longer care except so far as your life can be used tactically to promote a cause you believe in.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Accepting mortality can liberate you to live authentically and purposefully.
This quote reflects the idea that coming to terms with one's own mortality allows individuals to live with greater freedom and intent. When one acknowledges that life is finite, concerns about societal approval or reputation fade, enabling a focus on meaningful pursuits that align with one's values and beliefs, often for the greater good.
Themes
DeathFreedomLifeReputationPurpose
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech on embracing life's challenges.
More from Saul Alinsky
All quotes →Lest we forget at least an over the shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins - or which is which), the very first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom - Lucifer.
Saul AlinskyRead
The second rule is: Never go outside the experience of your people. When an action is outside the experience of the people, the result is confusion, fear, and retreat.
Saul AlinskyRead
The first step in community organization is community disorganization. The disruption of the present organization is the first step toward community organization. Present arrangements must be disorganized if they are to be displace by new patterns.... All change means disorganization of the old and organization of the new.
Saul AlinskyRead
The threat is generally more terrifying than the thing itself.
Saul AlinskyRead
Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.
Saul AlinskyRead
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My friend wants to get moving and so do I,' Eddie said. 'We've got miles to go yet.' I know that. It's on your face, son. Like a scar.' Eddie was fascinated by the idea of duty and ka as something that left a mark, something that might look like decoration to one eye and disfigurement to another. Outside, thunder cracked and lightning flashed.
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He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God's providence to lead him aright.
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I was born into the world as the king of truth for the salvation of the world.
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Revolutionary men with principles were not really different from the rest. They used their cleverness to get, in return for principles, what other men buy with their money.
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