--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We could hardly believe that after so…" description: "\"We could hardly believe that after so many ordeals, after all the trials of modern skepticism, there was still so much left in our souls to destroy.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/alexander-herzen-13536_believe_we-could-hardly-believe-that-after-so-ma_1057321.jpg" --- # We could hardly believe that after so many ordeals, after… ![“We could hardly believe that after so many ordeals, after all the trials of modern skepticism, there was still so much left in our souls to destroy.” quote by Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/alexander-herzen-13536_believe_we-could-hardly-believe-that-after-so-ma_1057321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/alexander-herzen-13536_believe_we-could-hardly-believe-that-after-so-ma_1057321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/alexander-herzen-13536_believe_we-could-hardly-believe-that-after-so-ma_1057321.jpg) > “We could hardly believe that after so many ordeals, after all the trials of modern skepticism, there was still so much left in our souls to destroy.” [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite relentless skepticism, humanity retains a destructive capacity within its soul. **In simple terms:** Human nature can still be self‑destructive. Key Takeaway Guard against inner darkness. Themes philosophy human nature destruction Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - ethical decision‑making - conflict resolution Key Concepts existentialism psychology morality Questions to Reflect On - What inner forces drive destructive behavior? - How can we cultivate inner resilience? A Different Perspective Self‑destruction may be rationalized by ideology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [I knew that this was going to be questioned and it was going to come under skepticism as to why I left 'Star Wars'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-trank/i-knew-that-this-was-going-to-be-questioned-and-it-was-going-to-come/) [Josh Trank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-trank/) > [“I’d never dreamed anybody could love me the way he did. And even when he proved it to me time and again – I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/i-d-never-dreamed-anybody-could-love-me-the-way-he-did-and-even-when/) [Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/) > [“his first dawn without Willowbreeze. He could hardly believe the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/his-first-dawn-without-willowbreeze-he-could-hardly-believe-the/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge-many/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [It would be difficult to tell," Wulf said. "I've always been a romantic. I've seen Casablanca twice, and I sat through the entire ordeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/it-would-be-difficult-to-tell-wulf-said-i-ve-always-been-a-romantic-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [My run is so weird. That's what I'm most nervous about in this whole ordeal. 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You just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/high-school-wasn-t-a-trial-by-fire-or-some-ordeal-that-had-to-be/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## More by Alexander Herzen > [We think the purpose of a child is to grow up because it does grow up. But its purpose is to play, to enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/we-think-the-purpose-of-a-child-is-to-grow-up-because-it-does-grow-up/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [The Death of the contemporary forms of social order ought to gladden rather than trouble the soul. Yet what is frightening is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/the-death-of-the-contemporary-forms-of-social-order-ought-to-gladden/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [Science, which cuts its way through the muddy pond of daily life without mingling with it, casts its wealth to right and left, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/science-which-cuts-its-way-through-the-muddy-pond-of-daily-life/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [It seems to me that you are solving a problem which goes beyond the limits of physiology in too simple a way. 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That is why they have always been more pernicious than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/all-religions-have-based-morality-on-obedience-that-is-to-say-on/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [You can no more bridle passions with logic than you can justify them in the law courts. Passions are facts and not dogmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/you-can-no-more-bridle-passions-with-logic-than-you-can-justify-them/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [One must open men's eyes, not tear them out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/one-must-open-men-s-eyes-not-tear-them-out/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) [Explore all 48 Alexander Herzen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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