--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to my observations, mankind are…" description: "\"According to my observations, mankind are among the most easily tamable and domesticable of all creatures in the animal world. They are readily reducib..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/albert-j-nock-9816_animal_according-to-my-observations-mankind-are_2208342.jpg" --- # According to my observations, mankind are among the most… ![“According to my observations, mankind are among the most easily tamable and domesticable of all creatures in the animal world. They are readily reducible to submission, so readily conditionable (to coin a word) as to exhibit an almost incredibly enduring patience under restraint and oppression of…” quote by Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/albert-j-nock-9816_animal_according-to-my-observations-mankind-are_2208342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/albert-j-nock-9816_animal_according-to-my-observations-mankind-are_2208342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/albert-j-nock-9816_animal_according-to-my-observations-mankind-are_2208342.jpg) > “According to my observations, mankind are among the most easily tamable and domesticable of all creatures in the animal world. They are readily reducible to submission, so readily conditionable (to coin a word) as to exhibit an almost incredibly enduring patience under restraint and oppression of the most flagrant character. So far are they from displaying any overweening love of freedom that they show a singular contentment with a condition of servitorship, often showing a curious canine pride in it, and again often simply unaware that they are existing in that condition.” [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans readily accept subjugation, showing patience under oppression while lacking a strong innate drive for freedom. **In simple terms:** People often tolerate oppression. Key Takeaway Question the comfort of conformity. Themes freedom conformity psychology human nature Mood reflective thoughtful critical Type philosophical observational inspirational When to use this quote - workplace hierarchies - authoritarian regimes - cultural traditions - personal relationships Key Concepts obedience conditioning social control Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice moments when you accept limits? - What inspires you to seek autonomy? A Different Perspective Many individuals also fiercely resist oppression, demonstrating a complex relationship with freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-world/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Canine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canine/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraint/) [Submission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submission/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Animals are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beston/animals-are-not-brethren-they-are-not-underlings-they-are-other/) [Henry Beston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beston/) > [We need another and a wiser and a perhaps more mystical concept of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beston/we-need-another-and-a-wiser-and-a-perhaps-more-mystical-concept-of/) [Henry Beston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beston/) > [Kitten is in the animal world what the rosebud is in the garden; the one the most beautiful of all young creatures, the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/kitten-is-in-the-animal-world-what-the-rosebud-is-in-the-garden-the/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [We Indians do not teach that there is only one god. We know that everything has power, including the most inanimate, inconsequential things. 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In a world older than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beston/the-animal-should-not-be-measured-by-man-in-a-world-older-than-ours/) [Henry Beston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beston/) > [I do not see any reason why animals should be slaughtered to serve as human diet when there are so many substitutes. After all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-do-not-see-any-reason-why-animals-should-be-slaughtered-to-serve-as/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It is the fate of every truth to be an object of ridicule when it is first acclaimed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/it-is-the-fate-of-every-truth-to-be-an-object-of-ridicule-when-it-is/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [All the lies and evasions by which man has nourished himself civilization, in a word is the fruits of the creative artist. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/all-the-lies-and-evasions-by-which-man-has-nourished-himself/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [To be nonviolent to human beings and to be a killer or enemy of the poor animals is Satan's philosophy. In this age there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/to-be-nonviolent-to-human-beings-and-to-be-a-killer-or-enemy-of-the/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-coates/so-then-man-tortures-and-kills-millions-more-animals-to-look-for/) David C. Coates > [Despite one or two minority appeals our society is not outraged at man's unremitting use of the animal world. Ecologists and environmentalists may talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/despite-one-or-two-minority-appeals-our-society-is-not-outraged-at/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Albert J. Nock > [The State, on the other hand, both in its genesis and by its primary intention, is purely anti-social. It is not based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-state-on-the-other-hand-both-in-its-genesis-and-by-its-primary/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [When we speak freely, let us speak plainly, for plain speech is wholesome; especially, plain speech about public affairs and public men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/when-we-speak-freely-let-us-speak-plainly-for-plain-speech-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/like-all-predatory-or-parasitic-institutions-its-first-instinct-is/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The simple truth is that our businessmen do not want a government that will let business alone. They want a government they can use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-simple-truth-is-that-our-businessmen-do-not-want-a-government/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Above all things the mass-mind is most bitterly resentful of superiority. It will not tolerate the thought of an elite; and under a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/above-all-things-the-mass-mind-is-most-bitterly-resentful-of/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [By consequence I hold that no one ever did, or can do, anything for "society."... Comte invented the term altruism as an antonym for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/by-consequence-i-hold-that-no-one-ever-did-or-can-do-anything-for/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is certainly true that whatever a man may do or say, the most significant thing about him is what he thinks; and significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-certainly-true-that-whatever-a-man-may-do-or-say-the-most/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-positive-testimony-of-history-is-that-the-state-invariably-had/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/instead-of-recognizing-the-state-as-the-common-enemy-of-all-well-2/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/there-are-two-methods-or-means-and-only-two-whereby-man-s-needs-and/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Personal publicity of every kind is utterly distasteful to me, and I have made greater efforts to escape it than most people make to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/personal-publicity-of-every-kind-is-utterly-distasteful-to-me-and-i/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [It is interesting to observe that in the year 1935 the average individual's incurious attitude towards the phenomenon of the State is precisely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/it-is-interesting-to-observe-that-in-the-year-1935-the-average/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [I am said to be difficult of acquaintance, unwilling to meet any one half way, and showing a social manner which is easy, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/i-am-said-to-be-difficult-of-acquaintance-unwilling-to-meet-any-one/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-question-of-who-is-right-and-who-is-wrong-has-seemed-to-me-always/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) [Explore all 70 Albert J. Nock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. 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But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. 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It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "According to my observations, mankind are among the most easily tamable and domesticable of all creatures in the animal world. They are readily reducible to submission, so readily conditionable (to coin a word) as to exhibit an almost incredibly enduring patience under restraint and oppression of the most flagrant character. 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