--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Aggressiveness is not the main trouble…" description: "\"Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human species, but rather an excess capacity for fanatical devotion.\" — Arthur Koestler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg" --- # Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human… ![“Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human species, but rather an excess capacity for fanatical devotion.” quote by Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg) > “Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human species, but rather an excess capacity for fanatical devotion.” [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human conflict stems more from obsessive loyalty than raw aggression, leading to fanaticism. **In simple terms:** Fanatic devotion causes more trouble than aggression. Key Takeaway Beware blind devotion. Themes human nature fanaticism conflict Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political movements - religious sects - cult recruitment - online radicalization Key Concepts psychology social dynamics groupthink Questions to Reflect On - How does fanaticism manifest in your community? - What safeguards can limit blind devotion? A Different Perspective Blind loyalty can suppress critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggressiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggressiveness/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Fanatical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanatical/) [Human species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-species/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [The continuous disasters of man's history are mainly due to his excessive capacity and urge to become identified with a tribe, nation, church or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-continuous-disasters-of-man-s-history-are-mainly-due-to-his/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The evils of mankind are caused, not by the primary aggressiveness of individuals, but by their self-transcending identification with groups whose common denominator is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-evils-of-mankind-are-caused-not-by-the-primary-aggressiveness-of/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I love art, and it plays a huge role in my life. It's definitely one of my greatest joys, and I'm a bit fanatical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-love-art-and-it-plays-a-huge-role-in-my-life-it-s-definitely-one-of/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Actually, Ive been a fanatical health nut for five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-hines/actually-ive-been-a-fanatical-health-nut-for-five-years/) [Jerome Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-hines/) > [Marxism, Freudianism, global warming. These are proof - of which history offers so many examples - that people can be suckers on a grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/marxism-freudianism-global-warming-these-are-proof-of-which-history/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [I can't say that I have ever been fanatical about a show. To be honest, I'm not a big TV watcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockne-s-o-bannon/i-can-t-say-that-i-have-ever-been-fanatical-about-a-show-to-be-honest/) [Rockne S. O'Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockne-s-o-bannon/) > [There is a line between scurrilous nonsense and serious discussion that laps over, especially in this day and age when you've got all this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/there-is-a-line-between-scurrilous-nonsense-and-serious-discussion/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries-2/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I'm not fanatical or in love with being an MMA fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-diaz/i-m-not-fanatical-or-in-love-with-being-an-mma-fighter/) [Nick Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-diaz/) > [I think people who are fanatical about anything are funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-schaffer/i-think-people-who-are-fanatical-about-anything-are-funny/) [Jackie Schaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-schaffer/) > [I was never a fanatical movie person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-was-never-a-fanatical-movie-person/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [At school, I was fanatical about being a scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/at-school-i-was-fanatical-about-being-a-scientist/) [Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/) > [When people are fanatical about something, it's contagious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/when-people-are-fanatical-about-something-it-s-contagious/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [Fanaticism is the danger of the world, and always has been, and has done untold harm. I might almost say that I was fanatical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/fanaticism-is-the-danger-of-the-world-and-always-has-been-and-has/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [We immerse ourselves in escapist mass entertainment, such as 'reality T.V.' programs. We support fanatical politicians and preachers. Our politicians, in turn, support dictators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/we-immerse-ourselves-in-escapist-mass-entertainment-such-as-reality-t/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) ## More by Arthur Koestler > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The temptations of God were always more dangerous for mankind than those of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-temptations-of-god-were-always-more-dangerous-for-mankind-than/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. 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The catastrophe consisted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/as-modern-physics-started-with-the-newtonian-revolution-so-modern/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [If one looks with a cold eye at the mess man has made of history, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/if-one-looks-with-a-cold-eye-at-the-mess-man-has-made-of-history-it/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The ultimate truth is penultimately always a falsehood. He who will be proved right in the end appears to be wrong and harmful before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-ultimate-truth-is-penultimately-always-a-falsehood-he-who-will-be/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The real achievement in discoveries... is seeing an analogy where no one saw one before... The essence of discovery is that unlikely marriage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-real-achievement-in-discoveries-is-seeing-an-analogy-where-no-one/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The jester is brother to the sage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-jester-is-brother-to-the-sage/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) [Explore all 199 Arthur Koestler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) ## More Aggressiveness quotes > [As far as I'm concerned, Parnelli Jones was the greatest driver of his era. 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Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) [Browse all 90 Aggressiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggressiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human species, but rather an excess capacity for fanatical devotion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Koestler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-with-the-human-species-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aggressiveness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-with-the-human-species-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressiveness_aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-w_584674.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Aggressiveness is not the main trouble with the human species, but rather an excess capacity for fanatical…” — Arthur Koestler", "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 Koestler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Aggressiveness is not the main trouble...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-with-the-human-species-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/aggressiveness-is-not-the-main-trouble-with-the-human-species-but/#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 } } ] } ```