--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Descriptively, we can see in each person…" description: "\"“Descriptively, we can see in each person his own (weak) tendencies to grow toward self-actualization; and also descriptively, we can see his various (..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/abraham-h-maslow-40250_free-choice_descriptively-we-can-see-in-each-person_2086675.jpg" --- # Descriptively, we can see in each person his own (weak)… ![“Descriptively, we can see in each person his own (weak) tendencies to grow toward self-actualization; and also descriptively, we can see his various (weak) tendencies toward regressing (out of fear, hostility, or laziness). [...] if a person could himself see all the likely consequences of growth…” quote by Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/abraham-h-maslow-40250_free-choice_descriptively-we-can-see-in-each-person_2086675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/abraham-h-maslow-40250_free-choice_descriptively-we-can-see-in-each-person_2086675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/abraham-h-maslow-40250_free-choice_descriptively-we-can-see-in-each-person_2086675.jpg) > ““Descriptively, we can see in each person his own (weak) tendencies to grow toward self-actualization; and also descriptively, we can see his various (weak) tendencies toward regressing (out of fear, hostility, or laziness). \[...\] if a person could himself see all the likely consequences of growth and all the likely consequences of coasting or of regression, and if he were allowed to choose between them, he would always (in principle, and under 'good conditions') choose the consequences of growth and reject the consequences of regression. That is, the more one knows of the actual consequences of growth-choices and regression-choices, the more attractive become the growth-choices to practically any human being. And these are the actual choices he is prone to make if conditions are good, i.e., if he is allowed truly free choice so that his organism can express its own nature.”” [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing the real outcomes of growth versus stagnation makes growth choices more appealing, especially when free choice is possible. **In simple terms:** Understanding consequences drives people toward growth. Key Takeaway Provide clear information about outcomes. Themes self‑actualization choice consequence motivation human nature Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - education - personal therapy - policy design - health interventions Key Concepts psychology free will developmental theory Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of consequences affect decision making? - What environments best support free choice? A Different Perspective If conditions restrict true freedom, knowledge alone may not lead to growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actualization Descriptively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actualization-descriptively-4102804/) [Consequences Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences-growth-4102803/) [Consequences Regression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences-regression-4102805/) [Free choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-choice/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Self actualization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-actualization/) [Tendencies Regressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies-regressing-4102802/) ## Related quotes > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“I'd always vaguely expected to outgrown my limitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-d-always-vaguely-expected-to-outgrown-my-limitations/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [My mom says you only need three people you can rely on to achieve self-actualization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/my-mom-says-you-only-need-three-people-you-can-rely-on-to-achieve/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It is impossible to be the best we can be in isolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-p-brownlee/it-is-impossible-to-be-the-best-we-can-be-in-isolation/) [Paula P Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-p-brownlee/) > [We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-ask-ourselves-who-am-i-to-be-brilliant-gorgeous-handsome-talented/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I taught myself to write in order to understand who I was and so yes, writing was an act of self-actualization in the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-trussoni/i-taught-myself-to-write-in-order-to-understand-who-i-was-and-so-yes/) [Danielle Trussoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-trussoni/) > [If you follow your bliss...the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-you-follow-your-bliss-the-life-that-you-ought-to-be-living-is-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Whatever you is, Onion," he said, "be it full.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/whatever-you-is-onion-he-said-be-it-full/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [Money cannot buy the self-actualization of one's feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-usha/money-cannot-buy-the-self-actualization-of-one-s-feelings/) [P. T. Usha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-usha/) > [Intimacy requires courage because risk is inescapable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/intimacy-requires-courage-because-risk-is-inescapable/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“We are unknown to ourselves, we men of knowledge--and with good reason. We have never sought ourselves--how could it happen that we should ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-are-unknown-to-ourselves-we-men-of-knowledge-and-with-good-reason/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“..how we seek to spend our time may depend on how much time we perceive ourselves to have. When you are young and healthy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/how-we-seek-to-spend-our-time-may-depend-on-how-much-time-we-perceive/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [“Doing activities that you love to do, even a few minutes a day, can help you experience more flow, improve your well-being, and help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-e-smith/doing-activities-that-you-love-to-do-even-a-few-minutes-a-day-can/) [Laurie E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-e-smith/) > [“Your attention please. This is not a rehearsal. This is not a drill. This is your life. Make the most of it. Become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-faust/your-attention-please-this-is-not-a-rehearsal-this-is-not-a-drill/) [Michael Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-faust/) > [“Expectation has brought me disappointment. Disappointment has brought me wisdom. Acceptance, gratitude and appreciation have brought me joy and fulfilment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/expectation-has-brought-me-disappointment-disappointment-has-brought/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) ## More by Abraham H. Maslow > [“Every age but ours has had its model, its ideal. All of these have been given up by our culture; the saint, the hero,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/every-age-but-ours-has-had-its-model-its-ideal-all-of-these-have-been/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“Orthodox science today attempts to be free not only of values but also of emotions. As youngsters would say, it tries to be "cool".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/orthodox-science-today-attempts-to-be-free-not-only-of-values-but/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“To sum it up, from this point of view, the two religions of mankind tend to be the peakers and the non-peakers, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/to-sum-it-up-from-this-point-of-view-the-two-religions-of-mankind/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“The needs for safety, belonging, love relations and for respect can be satisfied only by other people, i.e., only from outside the person. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-needs-for-safety-belonging-love-relations-and-for-respect-can-be/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“The empirical fact is that self-actualizing people, our best experiencers, are also our most compassionate, our great improvers and reformers of society, our most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualizing-people-our-best/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“Seeing is better than being blind, even when seeing hurts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/seeing-is-better-than-being-blind-even-when-seeing-hurts/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [ “The question of desirable grief and pain or the necessity for it must also be faced. \[Are\] growth and self-fulfillment possible at all without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-question-of-desirable-grief-and-pain-or-the-necessity-for-it-must/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“The search for the exotic, the strange, the unusual, the uncommon has often taken the form of pilgrimages, of turning away from the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-search-for-the-exotic-the-strange-the-unusual-the-uncommon-has/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [ “Shortsighted people make \[experientialism and social reform\] opposites, mutually exclusive. \[...\] The empirical fact is that self-actualizing people, our best experiencers, are also our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/shortsighted-people-make-experientialism-and-social-reform-opposites/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“Neither are the humanistic scholars and artists of any great help these days. They used to be, and were supposed to be, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/neither-are-the-humanistic-scholars-and-artists-of-any-great-help/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) [Explore all 11 Abraham H. Maslow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) ## More Free choice quotes > [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [The so-called 'Employee Free Choice Act' envisions a world where workers would be denied privacy and forced to vote in an atmosphere of intimidation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-so-called-employee-free-choice-act-envisions-a-world-where/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Revisiting the Revolutionary War is a bracing reminder that the fate of a continent, and the shape of the modern world, turned on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/revisiting-the-revolutionary-war-is-a-bracing-reminder-that-the-fate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's is the causality at the level of our being, and therefore the roots of our freedom. Ours in causality is determinative of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-george/god-s-is-the-causality-at-the-level-of-our-being-and-therefore-the/) [Francis George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-george/) > [“You see then, that Diatribe truly possesses a free choice in her handling of Scriptures, so that words of one and the same type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/you-see-then-that-diatribe-truly-possesses-a-free-choice-in-her/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Whatever does not spring from a man's free choice, or is only the result of instruction and guidance, does not enter into his very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/whatever-does-not-spring-from-a-man-s-free-choice-or-is-only-the/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people ordained to evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-gives-himself-in-his-son-to-save/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“Without awareness, there is no free choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-joy/without-awareness-there-is-no-free-choice/) [Melanie Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-joy/) > [“Indeed, to spur your Baal to action, I will taunt and challenge you ... to create as much as a single frog in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/indeed-to-spur-your-baal-to-action-i-will-taunt-and-challenge-you-to/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“I will say something still easier. Take a single flea or louse-since you tempt and mock our God with this talk about curing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-will-say-something-still-easier-take-a-single-flea-or-louse-since/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Before a person start to walk the Straight & Narrow Path, they have to make some changes within them self, like turning away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/before-a-person-start-to-walk-the-straight-narrow-path-they-have-to/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Full Medicare-for-all, free choice of doctor and hospital: that comes in sixty to seventy percent without even further explanation. And if you ever explained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/full-medicare-for-all-free-choice-of-doctor-and-hospital-that-comes/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [“But I will tell you another misery that is not to be denied. In the common, natural course of events physicians, surgeons and apothecaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-i-will-tell-you-another-misery-that-is-not-to-be-denied-in-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [35 is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/35-is-a-very-attractive-age-london-society-is-full-of-women-of-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives. Mankind's greatest gift, also its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-need-to-teach-the-next-generation-of-children-from-day-one-that/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) [Browse all 194 Free choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Descriptively, we can see in each person his own (weak) tendencies to grow toward self-actualization; and also descriptively, we can see his various (weak) tendencies toward regressing (out of fear, hostility, or laziness). [...] if a person could himself see all the likely consequences of growth and all the likely consequences of coasting or of regression, and if he were allowed to choose between them, he would always (in principle, and under 'good conditions') choose the consequences of growth and reject the consequences of regression. 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