“Money is the string with which a sardonic destiny directs the motions of its puppets.”
W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British playwright, novelist, short story writer
Quoted in Somerset Maugham (1980) by Ted Morgan
“What if a puppet could cut its own strings, and in that act of defiance and strength of will become truly alive? Become is own puppetmaster?”
Source: I Hunt Killers
Last update March 1, 2022. History
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Barry Lyga22
American writer 1971Related quotes
William Barrett (philosopher) book Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy
Source: Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy (1958), Chapter Six, The Flight From Laputa, p. 121
“We’re all puppets, Laurie. I’m just a puppet who can see the strings.”
Alan Moore book Watchmen
Source: Doctor Manhattan, in Watchmen #9 (referring to Doctor Manhattans's theory of time)
Sam Harris (1967) American author, philosopher and neuroscientist
Sam Harris at Sydney Opera House Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2012, Discussion on Free Will http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM3raA1EwrI. <br class="br">2010s
“A puppet is free as long as he loves his strings.”
Sam Harris book Free Will (book)
Source: Free Will
Stanley Milgram (1933–1984) Social psychologist
As quoted in The Social Dimensions Of Law And Justice In Contemporary India (1979) by V. R. Krishna Iyer
Context: It may be that we are puppets — puppets controlled by the strings of society. But at least we are puppets with perception, with awareness. And perhaps our awareness is the first step to our liberation. The fact that obedience is often a necessity in human society does not diminish our responsibility as citizens. Rather, it confers on us a special obligation to place in positions of authority those most likely to use it humanely. And people are inventive. The variety of political forms we have seen in history are only several of many possible political arrangements. Perhaps the next step is to invent and to explore political forms that will give conscience a better chance to resist errant authority.
Indíra Gándhí (1917–1984) Indian politician and Prime Minister
"Preface, 4th Five Year Plan" http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/4th/4ppre.htm, Government of India Planning Commission (July 18, 1970).
Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) 19th-20th century Spanish writer and philosopher
The Tragic Sense of Life (1913), XI : The Practical Problem
Context: And what is its moral proof? We may formulate it thus: Act so that in your own judgment and in the judgment of others you may merit eternity, act so that you may become irreplaceable, act so that you may not merit death. Or perhaps thus: Act as if you were to die tomorrow, but to die in order to survive and be eternalized. The end of morality is to give personal, human finality to the Universe; to discover the finality that belongs to it — if indeed it has any finality — and to discover it by acting.