Quote of the Day: Outrage

 

Outrage is a substitute for religion: It convinces us that our existence has some kind of meaning or significance beyond itself, that is to say beyond the paltry flux of day-to-day existence, especially when that existence is a securely comfortable one. Therefore we go looking for things to be outraged about as anteaters look for ants. Of all emotions, outrage is not only one of the most pleasurable but also one of the most reliable.
— Theodore Dalrymple on outrage.

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There are 19 comments.

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  1. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Couldn’t have said it better myself.

    • #1
  2. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Timely.

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    A great post, Seawriter. So true!

    • #3
  4. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    I need that reminder from time to time.

    Prayer to the Lord for all I have right now.

    • #4
  5. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    All too true.

    This is part of the Quote of the Day Series. If you would like to share a favorite quote, you can sign up here.

    • #5
  6. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    On the other hand, outrage sustains a lot of people, even conservatives, and when your first priority is to not get outraged, your productivity can suffer. So there’s that.

    • #6
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (View Comment):
    On the other hand, outrage sustains a lot of people, even conservatives, and when your first priority is to not get outraged, your productivity can suffer. So there’s that.

    Good point, Midge. I think that outrage does have its positive side. But if we hold on to it at an intense, fiery level, it will take us down.

    • #7
  8. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    I try to ration my outrage.

    • #8
  9. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    Percival (View Comment):
    I try to ration my outrage.

    Why?

    Seawriter

    • #9
  10. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    I try to ration my outrage.

    Why?

    Seawriter

    Oh, you know, dead bodies, swords in shards, lances broken. It just gets very expensive and messy.

    • #10
  11. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    I try to ration my outrage.

    Why?

    Seawriter

    Oh, you know, dead bodies, swords in shards, lances broken. It just gets very expensive and messy.

    So you ration your outrage, too! Wow–I didn’t know we had so many outrageous people around!

    • #11
  12. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    So you ration your outrage, too! Wow–I didn’t know we had so many outrageous people around!

    No, I just know Percival. I have none. You want to get kicked out of Eden? Because outrage is how you get kicked out of Eden.

    • #12
  13. Trink Coolidge
    Trink
    @Trink

    Seawriter: Of all emotions, outrage is not only one of the most pleasurable but also one of the most reliable.

    {{Shudder}} . .  and ultimately so nihilistic.

    • #13
  14. Hypatia Member
    Hypatia
    @

     

    “Ye that Mitchell’s prayer have heard:

    ‘Send war in our  time, o Lord!’

    Know that when all words are said

    And a man is fighting mad,

    Something drops from eyes long blind,

    He completes his partial mind.

    For an instant stands at ease,

    Laughs aloud, his heart at peace.

    Even the wisest man grows tense

    With some sort of violence

    Before he can accomplish fate,

    Know his work, or choose his mate.”

    — W. B. Yeats  (from memory)

     

    • #14
  15. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    So you ration your outrage, too! Wow–I didn’t know we had so many outrageous people around!

    No, I just know Percival. I have none. You want to get kicked out of Eden? Because outrage is how you get kicked out of Eden.

    If I were in Eden, that would be a consideration.

    • #15
  16. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Percival (View Comment):
    If I were in Eden, that would be a consideration.

    Barbara? Seems a little old for you.

    • #16
  17. Maureen Rice Inactive
    Maureen Rice
    @MaureenRice

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    I try to ration my outrage.

    Why?

    Seawriter

    Oh, you know, dead bodies, swords in shards, lances broken. It just gets very expensive and messy.

    The obverse of my outrage seems to be despair…not a good place for me to dwell.

    • #17
  18. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    This should be carved above the entrance to Twitter HQ in San Fran.

    • #18
  19. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    I try to ration my outrage.

    Why?

    Seawriter

    Oh, you know, dead bodies, swords in shards, lances broken. It just gets very expensive and messy.

    There’s also insomnia, tachycardia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperhyperism.

    • #19
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