--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The empirical fact is that…" description: "\"“The empirical fact is that self-actualizing people, our best experiencers, are also our most compassionate, our great improvers and reformers of socie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg" --- # The empirical fact is that self-actualizing people, our… ![“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 effective fighters against injustice, inequality, slavery, cruelty, exploitation (and also are best fighters for excellence…” quote by Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg) > ““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 effective fighters against injustice, inequality, slavery, cruelty, exploitation (and also are best fighters for excellence, effectiveness, competence). And it also becomes clearer and clearer that our best 'helpers' are the most fully human persons. What I may call the bodhisattvic path is an integration of self-improvement and social zeal, i.e., the best way to become a better 'helper' is to become a better person. But one necessary aspect of becoming a better person is via helping other people. So one must and can do both simultaneously.”” [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. People who strive for personal growth also tend to act compassionately and fight injustice, linking self‑improvement with social service. **In simple terms:** Better selves help others. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal growth while serving society. Themes self‑actualization compassion social justice personal development humanism Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - community volunteering - mentoring - activism - personal reflection - education programs Key Concepts psychology ethical leadership bodhisattva ideal Questions to Reflect On - How can personal growth translate into effective social change? - What obstacles hinder compassionate action? A Different Perspective Self‑improvement alone may ignore systemic barriers that limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actualizing People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actualizing-people-1539918/) [Becoming a better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-a-better-person/) [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Bodhisattvic Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodhisattvic-path-1539917/) [Helping other people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-other-people/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Persons Bodhisattvic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons-bodhisattvic-1539916/) [Self improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-improvement/) ## Related quotes > [ “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/) > [If you're honest with yourself, that's the first step in maturing and becoming a better person. If you suppress your shortcomings and fears, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-millard/if-you-re-honest-with-yourself-that-s-the-first-step-in-maturing-and/) [Keith Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-millard/) > [“5. I Will Strive to Finish Well—Faithfulness Matters The final “rung” on my character ladder is the determination to keep building character and living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/5-i-will-strive-to-finish-well-faithfulness-matters-the-final-rung-on/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“Maybe there was a reason for me waking up and becoming a better person. Maybe it was because all along I was meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-stone/maybe-there-was-a-reason-for-me-waking-up-and-becoming-a-better/) [Amanda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-stone/) > [“Focus your future efforts on becoming a better person adding value to your community and the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-your-future-efforts-on-becoming-a-better-person-adding-value-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [There are really two things that drive New Year's resolution success. Number one is telling somebody about your goal. Chances are, they'll either join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/there-are-really-two-things-that-drive-new-year-s-resolution-success/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [You can't expect to find this amazing person if you're not growing and becoming a better person yourself...the harvest depends on the seed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-expect-to-find-this-amazing-person-if-you-re-not-growing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The best investment you will ever make is in yourself. Never stop exploring, learning, experiencing, and becoming a better person each day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-seetubtim/the-best-investment-you-will-ever-make-is-in-yourself-never-stop/) [Mo Seetubtim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-seetubtim/) > [I knew what the sanctified life was not. Not a life filled with more rituals, more scrupulously observed. Not more praying. Not becoming a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-l-ochs/i-knew-what-the-sanctified-life-was-not-not-a-life-filled-with-more/) [Vanessa L Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-l-ochs/) > [“Pastor and radio broadcaster Tony Evans says, “If you want a better world, composed of better nations, inhabited by better states, filled with better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/pastor-and-radio-broadcaster-tony-evans-says-if-you-want-a-better/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Self-actualizing people have a deep feeling of identification, sympathy, and affection for human beings in general. They feel kinship and connection, as if all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/self-actualizing-people-have-a-deep-feeling-of-identification/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Self-actualizing people must be what they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/self-actualizing-people-must-be-what-they-can-be/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Self-actualizing people - highly functioning people who live at extraordinary levels of awareness - train their minds to focus on what they intend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/self-actualizing-people-highly-functioning-people-who-live-at/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Self-actualizing people are those who have come to a high level of maturation, health and self-fulfillment... the values that self-actualizers appreciate include truth, creativity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/self-actualizing-people-are-those-who-have-come-to-a-high-level-of/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [I worked on becoming a better person and nurturing what I've been blessed with, improving my skills and taking care of my health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heart-evangelista/i-worked-on-becoming-a-better-person-and-nurturing-what-i-ve-been/) [Heart Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heart-evangelista/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [“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)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/descriptively-we-can-see-in-each-person-his-own-weak-tendencies-to/) [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 Becoming a better person quotes > [If you're honest with yourself, that's the first step in maturing and becoming a better person. If you suppress your shortcomings and fears, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-millard/if-you-re-honest-with-yourself-that-s-the-first-step-in-maturing-and/) [Keith Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-millard/) > [“Pastor and radio broadcaster Tony Evans says, “If you want a better world, composed of better nations, inhabited by better states, filled with better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/pastor-and-radio-broadcaster-tony-evans-says-if-you-want-a-better/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I knew what the sanctified life was not. Not a life filled with more rituals, more scrupulously observed. Not more praying. Not becoming a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-l-ochs/i-knew-what-the-sanctified-life-was-not-not-a-life-filled-with-more/) [Vanessa L Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-l-ochs/) > [“The best investment you will ever make is in yourself. Never stop exploring, learning, experiencing, and becoming a better person each day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-seetubtim/the-best-investment-you-will-ever-make-is-in-yourself-never-stop/) [Mo Seetubtim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-seetubtim/) > [You can't expect to find this amazing person if you're not growing and becoming a better person yourself...the harvest depends on the seed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-expect-to-find-this-amazing-person-if-you-re-not-growing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are really two things that drive New Year's resolution success. Number one is telling somebody about your goal. Chances are, they'll either join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/there-are-really-two-things-that-drive-new-year-s-resolution-success/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [“Focus your future efforts on becoming a better person adding value to your community and the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-your-future-efforts-on-becoming-a-better-person-adding-value-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Maybe there was a reason for me waking up and becoming a better person. Maybe it was because all along I was meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-stone/maybe-there-was-a-reason-for-me-waking-up-and-becoming-a-better/) [Amanda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-stone/) > [“5. I Will Strive to Finish Well—Faithfulness Matters The final “rung” on my character ladder is the determination to keep building character and living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/5-i-will-strive-to-finish-well-faithfulness-matters-the-final-rung-on/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I worked on becoming a better person and nurturing what I've been blessed with, improving my skills and taking care of my health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heart-evangelista/i-worked-on-becoming-a-better-person-and-nurturing-what-i-ve-been/) [Heart Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heart-evangelista/) > [Sometimes, off the field you learn the most, becoming a better person, and nutritionally, I've worked a lot on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-pickford/sometimes-off-the-field-you-learn-the-most-becoming-a-better-person/) [Jordan Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-pickford/) > [I refuse to go back to the old me. I'm becoming a better person using my past experiences as lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-refuse-to-go-back-to-the-old-me-i-m-becoming-a-better-person-using/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When characters change on screen, it makes you feel better about yourself. You think, 'Oh I change too, I'm constantly becoming a better person.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/when-characters-change-on-screen-it-makes-you-feel-better-about/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [Becoming a better person isn't just about talking about things that can make you a better person, it's actually about stepping up and making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/becoming-a-better-person-isn-t-just-about-talking-about-things-that/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The first step to change into becoming a better person is to accept that nobody is perfect and there is always something that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-cabading/the-first-step-to-change-into-becoming-a-better-person-is-to-accept/) [Ivy Cabading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-cabading/) [Browse all 22 Becoming a better person quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-a-better-person/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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 effective fighters against injustice, inequality, slavery, cruelty, exploitation (and also are best fighters for excellence, effectiveness, competence). And it also becomes clearer and clearer that our best 'helpers' are the most fully human persons. What I may call the bodhisattvic path is an integration of self-improvement and social zeal, i.e., the best way to become a better 'helper' is to become a better person. But one necessary aspect of becoming a better person is via helping other people. So one must and can do both simultaneously.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham H. Maslow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualizing-people-our-best/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Becoming a better person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualizing-people-our-best/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/167/abraham-h-maslow-40250_becoming-a-better-pe_the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualiz_808113.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The empirical fact is that self-actualizing people, our best experiencers, are also our most compassionate…” — Abraham H. Maslow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham H. Maslow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The empirical fact is that self-actualizing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualizing-people-our-best/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualizing-people-our-best/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```