Americans have an abiding belief in their ability to control reality by purely material means... airline insurance replaces the fear of death with the comforting prospect of cash.

Summary

This quote criticizes the American perspective of relying on material possessions and financial security as a means to control and alleviate their fears. It suggests that Americans tend to prioritize materialistic solutions, such as having insurance to replace their fear of death with the reassurance of monetary compensation, rather than confronting and accepting the existential aspects of life.

Topics