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Society cares about the individual only in so far as he is profitable. The young know this. Their anxiety as they enter in upon social life matches the anguish of the old as they are excluded from it.
Simone De Beauvoir
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Society values individuals primarily for their contributions, leading to anxiety for both the young entering social life and the old being left out.

Simone De Beauvoir's quote highlights the transactional nature of societal relationships, suggesting that an individual's worth is often measured by their profitability to society. This creates a disconnection, where young people feel pressure to conform and contribute, while older individuals experience isolation and anguish as they are marginalized once they are no longer deemed useful. The quote underscores the importance of recognizing the intrinsic value of individuals beyond their societal roles.

Themes

SocietyIndividualProfitabilityAnxietyMarginalization

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about social responsibility, one might quote De Beauvoir to highlight the importance of valuing individuals for more than just their utility.

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