Anne Lamott: Having Money Existentially
on Saturday, September 2, 2017Anne Lamott Money Quote saying something about having substantial money can lull us into the belief that we’re not helpless and exposed spiritually. Anne Lamott said:
“Having some money gives you the conviction that you’re not naked in the howling wind, even though you basically are, existentially” — Anne Lamott
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In this quote, Anne Lamott is acknowledging that having some financial resources provides a sense of security and protection from life’s vulnerabilities. However, she also qualifies this by stating that “existentially” or from a deeper philosophical perspective, everyone remains fundamentally exposed and mortal regardless of wealth.
Lamott suggests money can deliver an illusory feeling of being clothed and sheltered from misfortune, but that on a human level we all experience nakedness, fragility and uncertainty before the vagaries of fate. Her perspective conveys that no amount of wealth truly shields one from life’s inherent uncertainties, impermanence and capacity to inflict suffering at any time.
The overall interpretation is that while Lamott recognizes money’s psychological comforts, she also sees through to life’s deeper truths – that prosperity does not exempt anyone from life’s inherent hardships, losses and existential questions that apply to rich and poor alike. One can never fully insulate oneself from life’s capacity to inflict pain or strip away worldly supports in an instant.