It is a sign of creeping inner death when we can no longer praise the living.
Interpretation
The inability to appreciate the living signifies a decline in one's spirit and vitality.
Eric Hoffer's quote suggests that when we find ourselves unable to express admiration or appreciation for the vitality of those around us, it reflects a deeper issue within ourselves. This 'creeping inner death' indicates a stagnation of the spirit, where negativity or apathy takes root, preventing us from recognizing the beauty and life that exists in the world and within others.
In practice
During a motivational speech about embracing life and positivity.
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 villany you teach me I shall execute; and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
There is a tradition of opposition between adherents of induction and of deduction. In my view it would be just as sensible for the two ends of a worm to quarrel.
She would have liked not to be alive, or to be always asleep.
We commonly say in the trade that the most dangerous animal in a zoo is Man.
I live in my house as I live inside my skin: I know more beautiful, more ample, more sturdy and more picturesque skins: but it would seem to me unnatural to exchange them for mine.
I have firmly decided to bite the dust with a minimum of medical assistance when my time comes, and up to then to sin to my wicked heart's content.
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