--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The proper study of mankind is books." description: "\"The proper study of mankind is books.\" — Aldous Huxley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg" --- # The proper study of mankind is books. ![“The proper study of mankind is books.” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg) > “The proper study of mankind is books.” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying humanity through books provides insight into human nature and society. **In simple terms:** Books teach about people. Key Takeaway Read to understand humanity. Themes knowledge humanity books learning Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - education - personal development - cultural studies Key Concepts literature anthropology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What perspectives are missing in your reading? - How can you supplement books with experience? A Different Perspective Books are limited to authors' perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Know then thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-then-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-3/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Know thyself, presume not God to scan; The proper study of mankind is man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The proper study of mankind is the science of design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-the-science-of-design/) [Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/) > [The proper study of mankind is man in his relation to his deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-man-in-his-relation-to-his-deity/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [If, presume not to God to scan; The proper study of Mankind is Man. Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state, a being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/if-presume-not-to-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-man-plac/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The proper study of mankind is woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-woman/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The proper study of Mankind is Everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-everything/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The proper study of Mankind is Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-man/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [They who study mankind with a whip in their hands will always go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/they-who-study-mankind-with-a-whip-in-their-hands-will-always-go-wrong/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Anxieties about ourselves endure. If our proper study is indeed the study of humankind, then it has seemed-and still seems-to many that the study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/anxieties-about-ourselves-endure-if-our-proper-study-is-indeed-the/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [The proper study of a wise man is not how to die but how to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/the-proper-study-of-a-wise-man-is-not-how-to-die-but-how-to-live/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [The proper study of Man is anything but Man; and the most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-proper-study-of-man-is-anything-but-man-and-the-most-improper-job/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“The noblest study of mankind is Man, says Man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/the-noblest-study-of-mankind-is-man-says-man/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Know then thyself; presume not God to scan, The proper study of mankind is Man. Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/know-then-thyself-presume-not-god-to-scan-the-proper-study-of-mankind/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Oh! A mystery is it?' I cried, rubbing my hands. 'This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you for bringing us together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-doyle/oh-a-mystery-is-it-i-cried-rubbing-my-hands-this-is-very-piquant-i-am/) Arthur Doyle ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Then what’s time for?” asked Lenina in some astonishment. Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The proper study of mankind is books.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldous Huxley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/aldous-huxley-97_book_the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books-245_2452995.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The proper study of mankind is books.” — Aldous Huxley", "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": "Aldous Huxley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The proper study of mankind is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-proper-study-of-mankind-is-books/#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 } } ] } ```