--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most dangerous thing you can do is to…" description: "\"The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. There is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/c-s-lewis-2-132_absolutes_the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-t_185309.jpg" --- # The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one… ![“The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. There is not one of them which will not make us into devils if we set it up as an absolute guide. You might think love of humanity in general was safe, but…” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/c-s-lewis-2-132_absolutes_the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-t_185309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/c-s-lewis-2-132_absolutes_the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-t_185309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f44/c-s-lewis-2-132_absolutes_the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-t_185309.jpg) > “The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. There is not one of them which will not make us into devils if we set it up as an absolute guide. You might think love of humanity in general was safe, but it is not. If you leave out justice you will find yourself breaking agreements and faking evidence in trials "for the sake of humanity", and become in the end a cruel and treacherous man.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blindly following any single impulse as an absolute moral guide leads to corruption; balance and multiple virtues are needed to avoid becoming tyrannical. **In simple terms:** Following one impulse absolutely can corrupt you; balance is essential. Key Takeaway Cultivate multiple virtues and question absolute impulses. Themes morality impulse balance justice humanity Mood contemplative cautionary thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political decisions - personal choices - leadership - legal judgments - social reforms Key Concepts ethical pluralism moral absolutism human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate when an impulse is harmful? - What virtues should guide your decisions? A Different Perspective Absolute adherence can ignore context, leading to unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Finding yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-yourself/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-humanity/) [Love Of Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-humanity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [The more I love humanity in general, the less I love man in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-i-love-humanity-in-general-the-less-i-love-man-in-particular-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The more I love humanity in general the less I love man in particular. In my dreams, I often make plans for the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-more-i-love-humanity-in-general-the-less-i-love-man-in-particular/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-to-take-any-one-impulse-of-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Secular humanists can sit around and talk about their love of humanity, but it doesn't stack up against a two-millennium-old funeral high mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/secular-humanists-can-sit-around-and-talk-about-their-love-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [You have the love of humanity in your hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-have-the-love-of-humanity-in-your-hearts/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The way of life can be free and beautiful!!! ...don’t give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you – who regiment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/the-way-of-life-can-be-free-and-beautiful-don-t-give-yourselves-to/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Those thinkers who cannot believe in any gods often assert that the love of humanity would be in itself sufficient for them; and so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/those-thinkers-who-cannot-believe-in-any-gods-often-assert-that-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/i-m-sorry-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-an-emperor-that-s-not-my-business-i/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [“Speakers, coaches, consultants, thought-leaders, experts, and authors who dedicate their professional lives for the love of humanity and the betterment of society are making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/speakers-coaches-consultants-thought-leaders-experts-and-authors-who/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men! You have the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-chaplin/machine-men-with-machine-minds-and-machine-hearts-you-are-not/) [Charles Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-chaplin/) > [Agape's object is always the concrete individual, not some abstraction called humanity. Love of humanity is easy because humanity does not surprise you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/agape-s-object-is-always-the-concrete-individual-not-some-abstraction/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [In the last resort, a love of God without love of humanity is no love at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/in-the-last-resort-a-love-of-god-without-love-of-humanity-is-no-love/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/wherever-the-art-of-medicine-is-loved-there-is-also-a-love-of-humanity/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [“They say, love God, for it is the greatest virtue. I say, love humans, for there is no greater virtue, no greater religion, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/they-say-love-god-for-it-is-the-greatest-virtue-i-say-love-humans-for/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Abstract love of humanity is nearly always love of self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/abstract-love-of-humanity-is-nearly-always-love-of-self/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Absolutes quotes > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. 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