Servitude Quotes

“I would rather lie facedown on the ground
and use my body as a bridge,
than stand proud and tall
and use my body as a wall.”
― Kamand Kojouri

“Among other possibilities, money was invented to make it possible for a foolish man to control wise men; a weak man, strong men; a child, old men; an ignorant man, knowledgeable men; and for a dwarf to control giants.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana, The Use and Misuse of Children

“A man doesn't know till he tries it how killing uncongenial work is, and how it destroys the power of doing what one's fit for, even if there's time for both.”
― Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country

“Rebuffed from his fine feelings, Milkman matched her cold tone. "You loved those white folks that much?"

"Love?" she asked. "Love?"

"Well, what are you taking care of their dogs for?"

"Do you know why she killed herself? She couldn't stand to see the place go to ruin. She couldn't live without servants and money and what it could buy. Every cent was gone and the taxes took whatever came in. She had to let the upstairs maids go, then the cook, then the dog trainer, then the yardman, then the chauffeur, then the car, then the woman who washed once a week. Then she started selling bits and pieces––land, jewels, furniture. The last few years we ate out of the garden. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. The thought of having no help, no money––well, she couldn't take that. She had to let everything go."

"But she didn't let you go." Milkman had no trouble letting his words snarl.

"No, she didn't let me go. She killed herself."

"And you still loyal."

"You don't listen to people. Your ear is on your head, but it's not connected to your brain. I said she killed herself rather than do the work I'd been doing all my life!" Circe stood up, and the dogs too. "Do you hear me? She saw the work I did all her days and died, you hear me, died rather than live like me. Now, what do you suppose she thought I was! If the way I lived and the work I did was so hateful to her she killed herself to keep from having to do it, and you think I stay on here because I loved her, then you have about as much sense as a fart!”
― Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon

“Your realm is an insane place. In Volaria, no-one goes hungry, slaves are no use when they starve. Those freeborn too lazy or lacking in intelligence to turn sufficient profit to feed themselves are made slaves so they can generate wealth for those deserving of freedom, and be fed in return. Here, your people are chained by their freedom, free to starve and beg from the rich. It's disgusting.”
― Anthony Ryan, Tower Lord

“Many if not most slaves would have each readily jumped, and many if not most slaves would each readily jump, at the opportunity to be a master, if such an opportunity presents or had presented itself.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana, The Use and Misuse of Children

“Nobody is responsible for your sorrows and poverty, not even the devil. It is the work of the enemies of time that lives in some men, and their names are, 'Laziness and Procrastination'.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson

“Abase thee and serve me, worm of the pit. Else will I by and by summon out of ancient night intelligences and dominations mightier far than thou, and they shall serve my ends, and thee shall they chain with chains of quenchless fire and drag thee from torment to torment through the deep.”
― E.R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros

“If freedom rings, then bondage bombs.”
― Anthony Liccione

“Bushido refers not only to martial rectitude but personal rectitude. We understand that in serving each other we serve our own interests.

In serving our world, our world serves us. Allowing us to live in harmony with it.”
― Rick Remender, Tokyo Ghost, Vol. 1: Atomic Garden

“Some people in orthodox churches in Africa take poverty as a path that leads to heaven, making christianity look unattractive.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson

“I devote my life in service of humanity.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

“Those who do not have will always serve those who do.”
― Jacob Tomsky, Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality

“Don’t we see that men’s rightful task is to go out to work and wear themselves out trying to accumulate wealth, as though they were our factors or stewards, so that we can remain at home like the lady of the house directing their work and enjoying the profit of their labors? That, if you like, is the reason why men are naturally stronger and more robust than us — they need to be, so they can put up with the hard labor they must endure in our service.”
― Moderata Fonte

“All things can be deadly to us, even the things made to serve us; as in nature walls can kill us, and stairs can kill us, if we do not walk circumspectly.”
― Blaise Pascal, Pensées

“I opened my louvres and looked at Comfort, walking in the heavy rain, crying bitterly.
I heard mom saying, Anywhere you want to go, you can, but don't come back again to this house.
Comfort was beautiful, but her stealing attributes brought reproach on her and painted her beauty with dark impressions.
I looked at her, walking barefooted on the muddy ground congested with rain water.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson, Comfort

“He who want to be served must first know how to serve.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

“Are you serving others or your are being served by others?”
― Saji Ijiyemi

“Some people think life is all about suffering, and suffering means living life. So many people live their lives accepting suffering as a way of life and they end up living their lives in perpetual self-inflicted pain without seeing a need to awake to take steps to their latent joy! If you are not feeling happy, wake up! There is a reason to be happy and there is a reason for action. There is something solemn, noble and distinctive that can make you happy! Awake! It is never the wish of God that His creation lives in indentured servitude! Pray!”
― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, Religion, Philosophy and life: the reasons behind action

“You would sell your own people?" the captain asked, not sounding surprised.
"Better a life of servitude than death by starvation.”
― Melissa Landers, Starflight

“L’ambition des principaux profita de ces circonstances pour perpétuer leurs charges dans leurs familles ; le peuple, déjà accoutumé à la dépendance, au repos, et aux commodités de la vie, et déjà hors d’état de briser ses fers, consentit à laisser augmenter sa servitude pour affermir sa tranquillité : et c’est ainsi que les chefs, devenus héréditaires, s’accoutumèrent à regarder leur magistrature comme un bien de famille, à se regarder eux-mêmes comme les propriétaires de l’état, dont ils n’étaient d’abord que les officiers ; à appeler leurs concitoyens leurs esclaves, à les compter, comme du bétail, au nombre des choses qui leur appartenaient ; et à s’appeler eux-mêmes égaux aux dieux, et rois des rois.”
― Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality

“So stretch! Reach for it. Like falling down stairs, where your inner-genius takes over and saves you — your instincts are ready to serve you.”
― Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life

“Humility of the soul; divine.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

“Service for one another, service for mankind,”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

“He who want to be great must first be a servant.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

“Identify your divine gift and use it to serve humanity.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

“Are you serving in your local church or your are being served?”
― Saji Ijiyemi

“Making oneself large involves intentionally making oneself small.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough

“Les théâtres, les jeux, les farces, les spectacles, les gladiateurs, les bêtes étranges, les médailles, les tableaux et autres telles drogueries, c’étaient aux peuples anciens les appâts de la servitude, le prix de leur liberté, les outils de la tyrannie.”
― Étienne de La Boétie, Discours de la servitude volontaire: Réquisitoire contre l'Absolutisme

“Les hommes ont plus de timidité dans l'esprit que dans le cœur ; et les esclaves volontaires font plus de tyrans que les tyrans ne font d'esclaves forcés.”
― Charles Pinot Duclos, Considérations sur les mœurs de ce siècle