--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-preservation is the central aim of…" description: "\"Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities.\" — Boris Sidis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/boris-sidis-27589_activity_self-preservation-is-the-central-aim-of_2122126.jpg" --- # Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities. ![“Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities.” quote by Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/boris-sidis-27589_activity_self-preservation-is-the-central-aim-of_2122126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/boris-sidis-27589_activity_self-preservation-is-the-central-aim-of_2122126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/boris-sidis-27589_activity_self-preservation-is-the-central-aim-of_2122126.jpg) > “Self-preservation is the central aim of all life-activities.” [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All living activities aim to protect oneself; self‑preservation drives behavior. **In simple terms:** Self‑preservation is the core motive of life. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑preservation as a guiding force. Themes biology psychology motivation Mood analytical neutral Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - health decisions - risk assessment - career choices Key Concepts survival instinct self‑interest Questions to Reflect On - When does self‑preservation become selfish? - How can you balance self‑care with caring for others? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑preservation may hinder altruism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Aim Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim-life-508239/) [Central Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/central-aim-4333796/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Activities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-activities-1794679/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/) ## Related quotes > [To make the improving of our own character our central aim is hardly the highest kind of goodness. 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For self-protection man has created God, on whom he depends for his own protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walpola-rahula/two-ideas-are-psychologically-deep-rooted-in-man-self-protection-and/) [Walpola Rahula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walpola-rahula/) ## More by Boris Sidis > [Social laughter is momentary, soon burns itself out and passes away like the fire and smokes of straw, but genius shakes the very skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/social-laughter-is-momentary-soon-burns-itself-out-and-passes-away/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The main source of psychopathic diseases is the fundamental instinct of fear with its manifestations, the feeling of anxiety, anguish, and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-main-source-of-psychopathic-diseases-is-the-fundamental-instinct/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Not purpose but chance is at the heart of mental life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/not-purpose-but-chance-is-at-the-heart-of-mental-life/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Psychology is the science of psychic states both as to content and form, regarded from an objective standpoint, and brought in relation to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/psychology-is-the-science-of-psychic-states-both-as-to-content-and/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Mental synthesis of psychic content in the unity of a moment-consciousness is a fundamental principle of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/mental-synthesis-of-psychic-content-in-the-unity-of-a-moment/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The man of genius whether as artist or thinker requires a mass of accidental variations to select from and a rigidly selective process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-man-of-genius-whether-as-artist-or-thinker-requires-a-mass-of/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The psycho-physiological hypothesis is both inductively and deductively the sine qua non of the science of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-psycho-physiological-hypothesis-is-both-inductively-and/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Science is the description of phenomena and the formulation of their relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/science-is-the-description-of-phenomena-and-the-formulation-of-their/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The course of evolution is to a greater integration of similarly functioning ganglia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-course-of-evolution-is-to-a-greater-integration-of-similarly/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The general tendency of evolution is from structure to function, from bondage to freedom of the individual elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-general-tendency-of-evolution-is-from-structure-to-function-from/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The principle of recognition of evil under all its guises is at the basis of the true education of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-principle-of-recognition-of-evil-under-all-its-guises-is-at-the/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Suggestibility varies as the amount of disaggregation, and inversely as the unification of consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/suggestibility-varies-as-the-amount-of-disaggregation-and-inversely/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The tendency of life is not the preservation of the species, but solely the preservation of each individual organism, as long as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-tendency-of-life-is-not-the-preservation-of-the-species-but/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The recognition, the diagnosis, and the preservation of psychopathic individuals account for the apparent increase of neurotics in civilized communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-recognition-the-diagnosis-and-the-preservation-of-psychopathic/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Psychology must postulate uniformity of interrelation of physical, physiological, and psychic processes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/psychology-must-postulate-uniformity-of-interrelation-of-physical/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) [Explore all 20 Boris Sidis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. 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