--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You sharpen the human appetite to the…" description: "\"You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the size of cathedrals; fiber-optically connect th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg" --- # You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can… ![“You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the size of cathedrals; fiber-optically connect the world to every eager impulse; grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green, gold-plated fantasies, until every human becomes an…” quote by Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg) > “You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the size of cathedrals; fiber-optically connect the world to every eager impulse; grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green, gold-plated fantasies, until every human becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes his own God... and where can you go from there?” [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that unchecked ambition and consumerism turn desire into destructive power, inflating egos and turning people into self‑worshipping tyrants. **In simple terms:** Desire can become dangerous when amplified by greed and ego. Key Takeaway Beware of letting ambition become hubris. Themes ambition consumerism ego power hubris Mood cautionary critical reflective Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - political leadership - personal goal setting - marketing strategies - social media influence Key Concepts capitalism psychology mythology Questions to Reflect On - What limits should we set on personal ambition? - How can desire be used constructively? A Different Perspective It ignores the potential for collective good when desire is channeled responsibly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Cathedrals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathedrals/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Devil 's advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-s-advocate/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We don't need giant personalities to transform companies. We need leaders who build not their own egos but the institutions they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/we-don-t-need-giant-personalities-to-transform-companies-we-need/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“We need leaders who build not their own egos but the institutions they run.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/we-need-leaders-who-build-not-their-own-egos-but-the-institutions/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Love is overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/love-is-overrated-biochemically-no-different-than-eating-large/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [ “\[..\] the very open-endedness of human appetite is responsible for both our savagery and civility, since the creature that conceive of eating anything (including,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-very-open-endedness-of-human-appetite-is-responsible-for-both-our/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [Freedom, baby, is never having to say youre sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/freedom-baby-is-never-having-to-say-youre-sorry/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [How thin is the crust of order over the fires of human appetite and the lust for naked power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/how-thin-is-the-crust-of-order-over-the-fires-of-human-appetite-and/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't taste. Taste, but don't swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/look-but-don-t-touch-touch-but-don-t-taste-taste-but-don-t-swallow/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [“... that most natural human appetite, the hunger for somewhere else .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/that-most-natural-human-appetite-the-hunger-for-somewhere-else/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [“When the late Pope John Paul II decided to place the woman so strangely known as “Mother” Teresa on the fast track for beatification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/when-the-late-pope-john-paul-ii-decided-to-place-the-woman-so/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Encourage dissent: Leaders should have associates who have contrary views, who are devil's advocates, "variance sensors" who can tell them the difference between what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-dissent-leaders-should-have-associates-who-have-contrary/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Whenever you feel like feeling like a devil's advocate, Bible-thump. That, in a worldly world, is the great irony and satire of evangelism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/whenever-you-feel-like-feeling-like-a-devil-s-advocate-bible-thump/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Do Atheists believe in Devils' Advocates?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/do-atheists-believe-in-devils-advocates/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [Avant-garde means never having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/avant-garde-means-never-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) > [Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/better-to-reign-in-hell-than-serve-in-heav-n/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“In Hebrew, satan means an advocate of the alternative, the one who makes the arguments you don't know how to refute." Michelangelo looked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gidwitz/in-hebrew-satan-means-an-advocate-of-the-alternative-the-one-who/) [Adam Gidwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gidwitz/) ## More by Al Pacino > [Take a look at Israel's history and you would know who the terrorist is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/take-a-look-at-israel-s-history-and-you-would-know-who-the-terrorist/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Failure's relative. I've always felt, even early on, if I lose the freedom to fail, something's not right about that. It's how you treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/failure-s-relative-i-ve-always-felt-even-early-on-if-i-lose-the/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Who speaks of triumph? To endure is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/who-speaks-of-triumph-to-endure-is-everything/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Opinions I have about anything are in my personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/opinions-i-have-about-anything-are-in-my-personal-life/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [The fruit falls off the tree. You don't shake it off before it's ready to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/the-fruit-falls-off-the-tree-you-don-t-shake-it-off-before-it-s-ready/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [“Attica! Attica! Attica!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/attica-attica-attica/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I always had this thing, when I was younger especially, I didn't want to do movies that much. I found they took a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-always-had-this-thing-when-i-was-younger-especially-i-didn-t-want/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [There has been a lot of self-doubt and unwelcome events in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/there-has-been-a-lot-of-self-doubt-and-unwelcome-events-in-my-life/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [ I think what you see \[in Salome the play backstage\] is an artist having this fit of temperament. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-think-what-you-see-in-salome-the-play-backstage-is-an-artist-having/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [ When \[Julia Marie Pacino\] was 5 or 6 years old, we were in an Italian restaurant, and these people came by the table and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/when-julia-marie-pacino-was-5-or-6-years-old-we-were-in-an-italian/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I went to Performing Arts because that was the only school that would accept me. My scholastic level was not very high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-went-to-performing-arts-because-that-was-the-only-school-that-would/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [My first language was shy. Its only by having been thrust into the limelight that I have learned to cope with my shyness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/my-first-language-was-shy-its-only-by-having-been-thrust-into-the/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [When I was younger, there was the sex thing. That's par for the course.When you're a movie star, it went with it. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/when-i-was-younger-there-was-the-sex-thing-that-s-par-for-the-course/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [An actor with too much money will usually find a way to get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/an-actor-with-too-much-money-will-usually-find-a-way-to-get-rid-of-it/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I'm an actor, not a star. Stars are people who live in Hollywood and have heart-shaped swimming pools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-m-an-actor-not-a-star-stars-are-people-who-live-in-hollywood-and/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) [Explore all 219 Al Pacino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) ## More Appetite quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [the appetite for thinking must be regulated, as all sensible people know, for it may stifle one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-appetite-for-thinking-must-be-regulated-as-all-sensible-people/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [My curiosity and my appetite for evolving as an actor is one of the main components of me still working today in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/my-curiosity-and-my-appetite-for-evolving-as-an-actor-is-one-of-the/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [I have a strong appetite and its not for food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-strong-appetite-and-its-not-for-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The plain fact is that education is itself a form of propaganda - a deliberate scheme to outfit the pupil, not with the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plain-fact-is-that-education-is-itself-a-form-of-propaganda-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You should also eat eggs. Not “one egg per week” or some such non-physiologic restriction. Eat what your body tells you to eat, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/you-should-also-eat-eggs-not-one-egg-per-week-or-some-such-non/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-your-desires-are-not-great-a-little-will-seem-much-to-you-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [The commonest and cheapest sounds, as the barking of a dog, produce the same effect on fresh and healthy ears that the rarest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-commonest-and-cheapest-sounds-as-the-barking-of-a-dog-produce-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 994 Appetite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the size of cathedrals; fiber-optically connect the world to every eager impulse; grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green, gold-plated fantasies, until every human becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes his own God... and where can you go from there?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Pacino" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-point-where-it-can-split-atoms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appetite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-point-where-it-can-split-atoms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/al-pacino-1656_appetite_you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-po_1153011.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the…” — Al Pacino", "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": "Al Pacino", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You sharpen the human appetite to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-point-where-it-can-split-atoms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/you-sharpen-the-human-appetite-to-the-point-where-it-can-split-atoms/#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 } } ] } ```