--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes I think that it is only the…" description: "\"“Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of mankind which makes him think that all this stage was erected for him to strut upon.”\" — Ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg" --- # Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of… ![“Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of mankind which makes him think that all this stage was erected for him to strut upon.” quote by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg) > ““Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of mankind which makes him think that all this stage was erected for him to strut upon.”” [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human arrogance blinds us to our small place in the universe. **In simple terms:** Pride makes us think the world is our stage. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility. Themes humility philosophy human nature Mood reflective critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - political discourse - art criticism - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism ego anthropocentrism Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever feel the world is designed for you? - How does humility change your actions? A Different Perspective Not all view the world as a stage; some see it as a community. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) [Conceit Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit-mankind-4386028/) [Monstrous Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monstrous-conceit-4386027/) [Think Monstrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-monstrous-1816773/) [Think Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-stage-775095/) ## Related quotes > [“I did not think that it was so monstrous. It is wrong to become absorbed in the divine law to such a degree as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-did-not-think-that-it-was-so-monstrous-it-is-wrong-to-become/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I don't think I was a monstrous child. I don't think I was ever allowed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-monstrous-child-i-don-t-think-i-was-ever/) [Mark Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lester/) > [“You don't care what others think - which might be understandable. But you don't care even to make them think as you do?" "No."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/you-don-t-care-what-others-think-which-might-be-understandable-but/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I started off on stage because it was the only work I could get. I haven't been back for 11 years. I think any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/i-started-off-on-stage-because-it-was-the-only-work-i-could-get-i/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [I think you go through a stage where you're constantly asking questions because you're learning every day, and when it's like that you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-snodgrass/i-think-you-go-through-a-stage-where-you-re-constantly-asking/) [Robert Snodgrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-snodgrass/) > [I think on stage I would like a cheeseburger to be thrown at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/i-think-on-stage-i-would-like-a-cheeseburger-to-be-thrown-at-me/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [No one ever said movies are for developing your range. Hardly anyone gets that opportunity. Which is why I think the stage is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-mineo/no-one-ever-said-movies-are-for-developing-your-range-hardly-anyone/) [Sal Mineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-mineo/) > [My boyfriend's a musician, and I think when he's on stage is the only time he's not worrying. And so that's the reason he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-boyfriend-s-a-musician-and-i-think-when-he-s-on-stage-is-the-only/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [My middle name is Marshall. A lot of people think it's a stage name, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-st-john/my-middle-name-is-marshall-a-lot-of-people-think-it-s-a-stage-name/) [Trevor St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-st-john/) > [I think on stage theres a side of me that comes out thats very fierce and confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessanne-chin/i-think-on-stage-theres-a-side-of-me-that-comes-out-thats-very-fierce/) [Tessanne Chin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessanne-chin/) > [People think stage school is a little star factory but the truth is kids like me learned about being in a team situation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/people-think-stage-school-is-a-little-star-factory-but-the-truth-is/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [I think on stage there's a side of me that comes out that's very fierce and confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessanne-chin/i-think-on-stage-there-s-a-side-of-me-that-comes-out-that-s-very/) [Tessanne Chin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessanne-chin/) > [I think on a stage in front of thousands of people is a wildly invigorating and amazing experience, and it requires a certain skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/i-think-on-a-stage-in-front-of-thousands-of-people-is-a-wildly/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [I always feel like the less I think of stage presence, the better, because then I have to face the fact that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robbins/i-always-feel-like-the-less-i-think-of-stage-presence-the-better/) [J. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robbins/) > [I think the stage is the place where I feel most comfortable and most myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hadwin/i-think-the-stage-is-the-place-where-i-feel-most-comfortable-and-most/) [Courtney Hadwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hadwin/) ## More by Arthur Conan Doyle > [“shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/shattered-the-bone-and-grazed-the-subclavian-artery-i/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“A study in scarlet, eh? Why shouldn't we use a little art jargon. There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/a-study-in-scarlet-eh-why-shouldn-t-we-use-a-little-art-jargon-there/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Holy men? Holy cabbages! Holy bean-pods! What do they do but live and suck in sustenance and grow fat? If that be holiness, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/holy-men-holy-cabbages-holy-bean-pods-what-do-they-do-but-live-and/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Wonderful!" I ejaculated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/wonderful-i-ejaculated/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Ex-Professor Moriarty of mathematical celebrity... is the Napoleon of crime, Watson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/ex-professor-moriarty-of-mathematical-celebrity-is-the-napoleon-of/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“When a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of criminals. He has the nerve and he has the knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/when-a-doctor-does-go-wrong-he-is-the-first-of-criminals-he-has-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of Nature!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/how-small-we-feel-with-our-petty-ambitions-and-strivings-in-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [You wish to put me in the dark. I tell you that I will never be put in the dark. You wish to beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/you-wish-to-put-me-in-the-dark-i-tell-you-that-i-will-never-be-put-in/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-he-said-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“It is hard luck on a young fellow to have expensive tastes, great expectations, aristocratic connections but no actual money in his pocket, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-hard-luck-on-a-young-fellow-to-have-expensive-tastes-great/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/in-the-year-1878-i-took-my-degree-of-doctor-of-medicine-of-the/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) [Explore all 740 Arthur Conan Doyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More Conceit quotes > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Conceit is a sure sign of insecurity; humility denotes awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivaya-subramuniyaswami/conceit-is-a-sure-sign-of-insecurity-humility-denotes-awareness/) [Sivaya Subramuniyaswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivaya-subramuniyaswami/) > [Conceit is a weird disease - it makes everybody sick except the guy who has it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/conceit-is-a-weird-disease-it-makes-everybody-sick-except-the-guy-who/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Being carefree, you can fit in anywhere. If you’re not carefree you keep on bumping up against things. Your life becomes so narrow, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/being-carefree-you-can-fit-in-anywhere-if-you-re-not-carefree-you/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) > [This man, who for twenty-five years has been reading and writing about art, and in all that time has never understood anything about art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/this-man-who-for-twenty-five-years-has-been-reading-and-writing-about/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [There is nothing like a good bit of pain for taking the conceit out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/there-is-nothing-like-a-good-bit-of-pain-for-taking-the-conceit-out/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [If you want to conquer conceit, do not desire praise, laurels, nice garments, respect, favor, but like to be blamed and slandered by people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/if-you-want-to-conquer-conceit-do-not-desire-praise-laurels-nice/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [The smaller the mind, the greater the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-smaller-the-mind-the-greater-the-ego/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [If a man thinks he is not conceited, he is very conceited indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-man-thinks-he-is-not-conceited-he-is-very-conceited-indeed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is simple ignorance, which is the source of lighter offenses, and double ignorance, which is accompanied by a conceit of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/there-is-simple-ignorance-which-is-the-source-of-lighter-offenses-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Jesus regularly visualized the success of his efforts ... 'I always do what pleases God.' ... Was this conceit? Or was it enlightened creativity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/jesus-regularly-visualized-the-success-of-his-efforts-i-always-do/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [“Took long enough,” she called out, not wanting to admit how the sight of him made her throat hitch, how the man was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mcintyre/took-long-enough-she-called-out-not-wanting-to-admit-how-the-sight-of/) [Katherine McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mcintyre/) [Browse all 360 Conceit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of mankind which makes him think that all this stage was erected for him to strut upon.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Conan Doyle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-monstrous-conceit-of-mankind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conceit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-monstrous-conceit-of-mankind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee3/arthur-conan-doyle-273_quote_sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-mo_2129944.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of mankind which makes him think that all this stage…” — Arthur Conan Doyle", "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": "Arthur Conan Doyle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sometimes I think that it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-monstrous-conceit-of-mankind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sometimes-i-think-that-it-is-only-the-monstrous-conceit-of-mankind/#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 } } ] } ```