Communication Quote by Christian Smith
““Persons in their most developed form are conscious, reflexive, embodied, self-transcending centers of subjective experience, durable identity, moral commitment, and social communication who—as the efficient cause of their own responsible actions and interactions—exercise complex capacities for agency and inter-subjectivity in order to sustain their own incommunicable selves in loving relationships with other personal selves and with the non-personal world.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Soul of the World, 2015
People are conscious, embodied beings who act responsibly, forming identities and relationships through agency and inter‑subjectivity.
In simple terms: Humans are conscious, responsible beings forming identities and relationships.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate self‑awareness and empathy.
Themes
identity
agency
responsibility
relationships
consciousness
embodiment
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- community work
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
philosophy of mind
social theory
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you practice self‑transcendence?
- In what ways can you support others’ identities?
A Different Perspective
Complex self‑concepts can be limiting if not balanced with humility.
![“Our personal identities are socially situated. We are where we live, eat, work, and make love. [...] Our sense of identity is in large measure conferred on us by others in the ways they treat or mistreat us, recognize or ignore us, praise us or punish us. Some people make us timid and shy; others…” quote by Philip G. Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/130/philip-g-zimbardo-46937_identity_our-personal-identities-are-socially-sit_2665083.jpg)
