Everyone becomes equally conscious of his body as a…
![“Everyone becomes equally conscious of his body as a separate and complete organism, [but] everyone does not become equally conscious of himself as a complete and separate personality. The feeling of apartness from others comes to most with puberty, but it is not always developed to such a degree…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/d15/w-somerset-maugham-237_football-match_everyone-becomes-equally-conscious-of-hi_3048461.jpg)
““Everyone becomes equally conscious of his body as a separate and complete organism, [but] everyone does not become equally conscious of himself as a complete and separate personality. The feeling of apartness from others comes to most with puberty, but it is not always developed to such a degree as to make the difference between the individual and his fellows noticeable to the individual. It is such as he, as little conscious of himself as the bee in a hive, who are lucky in life, for they have the best chance of happiness: their activities are shared by all, and their pleasures are only pleasures because they are enjoyed in common; you will see them on Whit-Monday dancing on Hampstead Heath, shouting at a football match, or from club windows in Pall Mall cheering a royal procession. It is because of them that man has been called a social animal.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Humans recognize their bodies but often fail to fully understand their individual selves, leading to a sense of separateness that grows at puberty.
In simple terms: People know their bodies better than their true selves.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑awareness beyond physical identity.
Themes
self‑awareness
individuality
social nature
development
identity
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- adolescence
- therapy
- teamwork
- community building
- leadership training
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
social theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does deeper self‑knowledge change your relationships?
- What practices help bridge body awareness and personal identity?
A Different Perspective
Some cultures emphasize collective identity over personal introspection, limiting self‑exploration.