The Fearful Void, Geoffrey Moorhouse

This merely exemplifies the calibre of the fear which every man carries with him, unless he is uncommonly wise or strong or lucky. It appears to us in a great many other forms, almost everyday of his life. We hesitate to speak to strangers for fear of a rebuff, a small humiliation. We are loath to use we fear that more may be taken from us than we really wish to give. We will not stand up and be counted in some small but important matter because it may cost us a security or, more frequently perhaps, an advancement. Gradually we become stultified, incapable of giving to each other, waiting instead for the next hostile move from another fearful man, which must be countered with all the craft at our disposal, for the sake of self-preservation.
Posted by supersusie at January 7, 2004 10:50 AM