--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have repeatedly stressed that the…" description: "\"I have repeatedly stressed that the selfish impulses of man constitute a much less historic danger than his integrative tendencies. To put it in the si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg" --- # I have repeatedly stressed that the selfish impulses of… ![“I have repeatedly stressed that the selfish impulses of man constitute a much less historic danger than his integrative tendencies. To put it in the simplest way: the individual who indulges in an excess of aggressive self-assertiveness incurs the penalties of society-he outlaws himself, he…” quote by Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg) > “I have repeatedly stressed that the selfish impulses of man constitute a much less historic danger than his integrative tendencies. To put it in the simplest way: the individual who indulges in an excess of aggressive self-assertiveness incurs the penalties of society-he outlaws himself, he contracts out of the hierarchy. The true believer, on the other hand, becomes more closely knit into it; he enters the womb of his church, or party, or whatever the social holon to which he surrenders his identity.” [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. Excessive self‑assertion alienates individuals, while integration into groups fosters belonging and purpose. **In simple terms:** Too much ego isolates; group belonging helps. Key Takeaway Balance personal drive with community. Themes individualism social cohesion identity ego community Mood analytical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - workplace dynamics - political movements - religious communities - social activism Key Concepts philosophy political theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does conformity become harmful? - How can we nurture healthy individuality? A Different Perspective Strong ego can lead to conflict; over‑integration may suppress dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assertiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertiveness/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Outlaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlaw/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [True believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-believer/) [Womb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/womb/) ## Related quotes > [It is naive to think that self-assertiveness is easy. To live self-assertively--which means to live authentically--is an act of high courage. That is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-is-naive-to-think-that-self-assertiveness-is-easy-to-live-self/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The world is full of people who are determined to be somebody or to give trouble. They want to get ahead, to stand out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-world-is-full-of-people-who-are-determined-to-be-somebody-or-to/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Ever notice who's SUCCESS look better on them? The ones who accepted their success with humble appreciation, lacking all signs of pride, aggressiveness, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/ever-notice-who-s-success-look-better-on-them-the-ones-who-accepted/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“The opposite of self-assertiveness is self-abnegation--abandoning or submerging your personal values, judgment, and interests. Some people tell themselves this is a virtue. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-opposite-of-self-assertiveness-is-self-abnegation-abandoning-or/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-bully-hides-his-fears-with-fake-bravado-that-is-the-opposite-of/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The pursuit of art is a delicate balance between influence and self-assertiveness. As self-realized artists, we all have different levels of tolerance for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/the-pursuit-of-art-is-a-delicate-balance-between-influence-and-self/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [One of the hardest expressions of self-assertiveness is challenging your limiting beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/one-of-the-hardest-expressions-of-self-assertiveness-is-challenging/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Reason tends to check selfish impulses and to grant the satisfaction of legitimate impulses in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/reason-tends-to-check-selfish-impulses-and-to-grant-the-satisfaction/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [Altruism is masked self-interest. Aggressive self-interest is a masked urge to self-destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bear/altruism-is-masked-self-interest-aggressive-self-interest-is-a-masked/) [Greg Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bear/) > [If post-punk enterprise suggested that pop music could establish a fierce skittishness, an aggressive self-irony, that would enable it to transcend its manufactured state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morley/if-post-punk-enterprise-suggested-that-pop-music-could-establish-a/) [Paul Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morley/) > [Man is not, like the animals, an obsequious puppet of instincts and sensual impulses. Man has the power to suppress instinctive desires, he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/man-is-not-like-the-animals-an-obsequious-puppet-of-instincts-and/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I know of no inquiry which the impulses of man suggests that is forbidden to the resolution of man to pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/i-know-of-no-inquiry-which-the-impulses-of-man-suggests-that-is/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Good God, what a mess of draggle-tail impulses a man is--and a woman too, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/good-god-what-a-mess-of-draggle-tail-impulses-a-man-is-and-a-woman/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The creative impulses of man are always at war with the possessive impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-wyck-brooks/the-creative-impulses-of-man-are-always-at-war-with-the-possessive/) [Van Wyck Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-wyck-brooks/) ## 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. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The revolutions of thought which shape the basic outlook of an age are not disseminated through text-books- they spread like epidemics, through contamination by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-revolutions-of-thought-which-shape-the-basic-outlook-of-an-age/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The moment of truth, the sudden emergence of a new insight, is an act of intuition. Such intuitions give the appearance of miraculous flushes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-moment-of-truth-the-sudden-emergence-of-a-new-insight-is-an-act/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Coincidence may be described as the chance encounter of two unrelated causal chains which - miraculously, it seems - merge into a significant event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/coincidence-may-be-described-as-the-chance-encounter-of-two-unrelated/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-more-original-a-discovery-the-more-obvious-it-seems-afterwards/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“Revolutionary theory had frozen to a dogmatic cult, with a simplified, easily graspable catechism, and with No. 1 as the high priest celebrating the Mass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/revolutionary-theory-had-frozen-to-a-dogmatic-cult-with-a-simplified/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Coincidence may be described as the chance encounter of two unrelated causal chains which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/coincidence-may-be-described-as-the-chance-encounter-of-two-unrelated-2/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The more backwoodish a social group, juvenile or adult, the stricter its conception of the normal, and the readier it will ridicule any departure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-more-backwoodish-a-social-group-juvenile-or-adult-the-stricter/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [As modern physics started with the Newtonian revolution, so modern philosophy starts with what one might call the Cartesian Catastrophe. 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 Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm just trying to be aggressive. Be aggressive with my shot. Be aggressive going to the rim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-just-trying-to-be-aggressive-be-aggressive-with-my-shot-be/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. They are the football teams I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-see-other-teams-playing-aggressive-attacking-football-they-are/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [I have definitely noticed I am very passionate. So if I'm fighting with someone I'll be SO super loud and aggressive, and make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-have-definitely-noticed-i-am-very-passionate-so-if-i-m-fighting/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It is deeply concerning to learn that Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly praised autocratic China's aggressive and troubling expansion into Africa during a 2019 speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/it-is-deeply-concerning-to-learn-that-linda-thomas-greenfield/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) Browse all 1,351 Aggressive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have repeatedly stressed that the selfish impulses of man constitute a much less historic danger than his integrative tendencies. To put it in the simplest way: the individual who indulges in an excess of aggressive self-assertiveness incurs the penalties of society-he outlaws himself, he contracts out of the hierarchy. The true believer, on the other hand, becomes more closely knit into it; he enters the womb of his church, or party, or whatever the social holon to which he surrenders his identity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Koestler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-selfish-impulses-of-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aggressive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-selfish-impulses-of-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/978/arthur-koestler-1903_aggressive_i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-self_3216100.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have repeatedly stressed that the selfish impulses of man constitute a much less historic danger than his…” — 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": "I have repeatedly stressed that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-selfish-impulses-of-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/i-have-repeatedly-stressed-that-the-selfish-impulses-of-man/#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 } } ] } ```