Antisocial Quote by Antonin Artaud
“There are souls that are incurable and lost to the rest of society. Deprive them of one means of folly, they will invent ten thousand others. They will create subtler, wilder methods, methods that are absolutely DESPERATE. Nature herself is fundamentally antisocial, it is only by a usurpation of powers that the organized body of society opposes the natural inclination of humanity.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Theatre of Cruelty, Antonin Artaud, 1938
Human beings have a deep, destructive impulse that, when suppressed, leads to more extreme, desperate behaviors.
In simple terms: Suppressed urges become more extreme.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address underlying needs.
Themes
psychology
society
human nature
destructiveness
control
Mood
tense
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
warning
cautionary
When to use this quote
- prison reform
- mental health treatment
- education policy
- community building
Key Concepts
Antisocial instinct
creative desperation
social conformity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society channel destructive impulses productively?
- What alternatives prevent escalation?
A Different Perspective
Suppressing impulses may worsen outcomes without constructive outlets.
![“[A] man and still more the woman, who can be accused either of doing "what nobody does," or of not doing "what everybody does," is the subject of as much depreciatory remark as if he or she had committed some grave moral delinquency.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/586/john-stuart-mill-477_accused_a-man-and-still-more-the-woman-who-can-b_899339.jpg)
