Imitation Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
““Imitation and custom are the spring of almost all human action. The cause of it is that men fight shy of all and any sort of reflection, and very properly mistrust their own discernment. At the same time this remarkably strong imitative instinct””
About This Quote
Humans often copy and follow conventions because they distrust their own judgment, relying on imitation as a safe shortcut for action.
In simple terms: People imitate to avoid thinking for themselves.
Key Takeaway
Mistrust of self leads to imitation.
Themes
human behavior
imitation
self-doubt
social conformity
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
philosophical observation
cultural critique
When to use this quote
- students copying peers
- companies adopting industry standards
- fashion trends
- political rhetoric echoing popular slogans
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
social learning theory
Practical Applications
- encourage critical thinking exercises
- create environments that reward originality
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we default to copying?
- What conditions foster confident self‑judgment?
A Different Perspective
Imitation can be efficient for learning complex skills when self‑confidence is low.
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
