--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings are the only creatures who…" description: "\"Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason.\" — Ashley Montagu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/ashley-montagu-9564_able_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_32252.jpg" --- # Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave… ![“Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason.” quote by Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/ashley-montagu-9564_able_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_32252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/ashley-montagu-9564_able_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_32252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/ashley-montagu-9564_able_human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who_32252.jpg) > “Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason.” [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans paradoxically justify illogical actions by invoking rationality, exposing a self‑deceptive tendency. **In simple terms:** Reason can mask irrationality. Key Takeaway Rationality can be a cover for irrational behavior. Themes self‑deception cognitive bias rationalization human nature psychology Mood ironic thought‑provoking skeptical Type aphorism observation When to use this quote - political discourse - scientific debates - personal decision‑making - marketing strategies Key Concepts cognitive dissonance irrationality rationalization Practical Applications - critical thinking training - ethical decision frameworks Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to rational justifications for irrational choices? - How can we recognize when reason is being misused? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [There may be occasions when it is best to behave irrationally, but whether there are should be decided rationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-j-good/there-may-be-occasions-when-it-is-best-to-behave-irrationally-but/) [I. J. Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-j-good/) > [Faith is one of those words that connotes, however irrationally, some kind of virtue in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-j-halle/faith-is-one-of-those-words-that-connotes-however-irrationally-some/) [Louis J. Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-j-halle/) > [Flowers make me irrationally happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/flowers-make-me-irrationally-happy/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [“The things that you think about the most will irrationally rise in importance in your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-things-that-you-think-about-the-most-will-irrationally-rise-in/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Somehow, despite all the science homebrewing requires, I’d become irrationally superstitious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-burningham/somehow-despite-all-the-science-homebrewing-requires-i-d-become/) Lucy Burningham > [Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/irrationally-held-truths-may-be-more-harmful-than-reasoned-errors/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us how to behave in the world. You teach us to not fight with others, to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severn-cullis-suzuki/at-school-even-in-kindergarten-you-teach-us-how-to-behave-in-the/) [Severn Cullis-Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severn-cullis-suzuki/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I will love you if you are stupid, if you slip and fall on your face, if you do the wrong thing, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/i-will-love-you-if-you-are-stupid-if-you-slip-and-fall-on-your-face/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [To be nonviolent to human beings and to be a killer or enemy of the poor animals is Satan's philosophy. 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As whole human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-isaac-rubin/to-the-extent-that-we-honor-all-aspects-of-ourselves-we-remove/) [Theodore Isaac Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-isaac-rubin/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ashley Montagu > [Love is the supreme form of communication. In the hierarchy of needs, love stands as the supreme developing agent of the humanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/love-is-the-supreme-form-of-communication-in-the-hierarchy-of-needs/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Human communication, 'as the saying goes, is a clash of symbols' it covers a multitude of signs. But it is more than media and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/human-communication-as-the-saying-goes-is-a-clash-of-symbols-it/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [There have been some medical schools in which somewhere along the assembly line, a faculty member has informed the students, not so much by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/there-have-been-some-medical-schools-in-which-somewhere-along-the/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [An intelligence that is not humane is the most dangerous thing in the world .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/an-intelligence-that-is-not-humane-is-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [“It neither kills outright nor inflicts apparent physical harm, yet the extent of its destructive toll is already greater than that of any war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/it-neither-kills-outright-nor-inflicts-apparent-physical-harm-yet-the/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [It is the mark of the cultured man that he is aware of the fact that equality is an ethical and not a biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/it-is-the-mark-of-the-cultured-man-that-he-is-aware-of-the-fact-that/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Girls marry for love. 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As the family is, so is the society, and it is human beings who make a family-not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-family-is-the-basis-of-society-as-the-family-is-so-is-the-society/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I want to die young at a ripe old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/i-want-to-die-young-at-a-ripe-old-age/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The idea of "race" represents one of the most dangerous myths of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-idea-of-race-represents-one-of-the-most-dangerous-myths-of-our/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [The measure of man's humanity is the extent and intensity of his love for mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-measure-of-man-s-humanity-is-the-extent-and-intensity-of-his-love/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [To admit ignorance is to exhibit wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/to-admit-ignorance-is-to-exhibit-wisdom/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Children are the most learning-hungry beings in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/children-are-the-most-learning-hungry-beings-in-the-world/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) [Explore all 71 Ashley Montagu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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