If human nature does alter it will be because individuals…
“If human nature does alter it will be because individuals manage to look at themselves in a new way. Here and there people - a very few people, but a few novelists are among them - are trying to do this. Every institution and vested interest in against such a search: organized religion, the State, the family in its economic aspect, have nothing to gain, and it is only when outward prohibitions weaken that it can proceed: history conditions it to that extent.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Changing self‑perception is the catalyst for personal transformation, but institutions resist because they lose control.
In simple terms: Seeing yourself differently sparks change, yet power structures oppose it.
Key Takeaway
Question your self‑view despite opposition.
Themes
self‑awareness
transformation
institutional resistance
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing workshops
- activist training
- personal coaching
Key Concepts
psychology
social control
identity formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you cultivate new self‑perception in a restrictive environment?
- What institutions reinforce your current self‑image?
A Different Perspective
Change may be blocked by entrenched interests, limiting progress.