Man, in spite of his fatal degradation, bears always the evident marks of his divine origin, in that every universal belief is always more or less true.
Joseph De MaistreRead
Man is insatiable for power; he is infantile in his desires and, always discontented with what he has, loves only what he has not. People complain of the despotism of princes; they ought to complain of the despotism of man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on humanity's endless yearning for power and dissatisfaction with what one possesses.
Joseph De Maistre's quote suggests that humans are inherently greedy and discontent, always craving more power and unable to appreciate what they already have. He critiques not just the tyranny of rulers but highlights a deeper, collective human nature that leads to perpetual dissatisfaction, emphasizing that the real despotism lies within humanity itself.
Themes
PowerDesireDiscontentHuman NatureGreed
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about leadership and the nature of power during a seminar.
More from Joseph De Maistre
All quotes βA constitution that is made for all nations is made for none.
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False opinions are like false money, struck first of all by guilty men and thereafter circulated by honest people who perpetuate the crime without knowing what they are doing.
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Man in harmony with his Creator is sublime, and his action is creative; equally, once he separates himself from God and acts alone, he does not cease to be powerful, since this is the privilege of his nature, but his acts are negative and lead only to destruction.
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Wherever an altar is found, there civilization exists.
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