Greatest man Quote by Colin Wilson
““Man is not a 'fixed and limited animal whose nature is absolutely constant'. He changed drastically when he developed 'divided consciousness' to cope with complexities of civilisation, and has been changing steadily ever since. His greatest problem, the problem that has caused most of his agonies and miseries, has been his attempt to compensate for the narrowing of cinsciousness and the entrapment in the left-brain ego. His favorite method of compensation has been to seek out excitement. He feels most free in moments of conquest; so for the past three thousand years or so, most of the greatest man have led armies into their neighbours' territority, and turned order into chaos. This has plainly been a retrogressive step; the evolutionary urge has been defeating its own purpose.””
About This Quote
Human nature is not static; the development of a split consciousness to manage societal complexity has led to a perpetual drive for conquest as a compensatory escape from mental narrowing.
In simple terms: Human consciousness evolves, prompting conquest as escape.
Key Takeaway
Conquest masks inner mental limits.
Themes
human nature
consciousness
civilization
conflict
evolutionary psychology
Mood
reflective
critical
philosophical
Type
philosophical
historical
psychological
When to use this quote
- leadership under stress
- military expansion
- personal thrill seeking
- societal upheaval
Key Concepts
divided consciousness
left-brain ego
compensation mechanisms
Practical Applications
- historical analysis of war motives
- psychological counseling for thrill‑seeking behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies repeatedly turn to war during periods of rapid change?
- How might expanding consciousness reduce the need for external conquest?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that conquest can also stem from collective identity formation, not merely ego compensation.
![“He has the capacity to veer with every wind, or, stubbornly, to insert himself into some fantastically elaborated and irrational social institution only to perish with it. [For man is a] fickle, erratic, dangerous creature [whose] restless mind would try all paths, all horrors, all betrayals ……” quote by Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/669/loren-eiseley-3848_illusions-delusions_he-has-the-capacity-to-veer-with-every-w_433496.jpg)
