--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humanism involves far more than the…" description: "\"Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy . . . translated into a life devoted to one's ow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/corliss-lamont-24504_affirmative_humanism-involves-far-more-than-the-nega_2021701.png" --- # Humanism involves far more than the negation of… ![“Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy . . . translated into a life devoted to one's own improvement and the service of all mankind.” quote by Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/corliss-lamont-24504_affirmative_humanism-involves-far-more-than-the-nega_2021701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/corliss-lamont-24504_affirmative_humanism-involves-far-more-than-the-nega_2021701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/corliss-lamont-24504_affirmative_humanism-involves-far-more-than-the-nega_2021701.png) > “Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy . . . translated into a life devoted to one's own improvement and the service of all mankind.” [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanism is not just rejecting the supernatural; it actively promotes personal development and service to humanity as a guiding philosophy. **In simple terms:** Humanism calls for active self‑improvement and helping others. Key Takeaway Live purposefully and contribute to the common good. Themes philosophy ethics service self‑development Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - volunteering - education - community projects - personal study Key Concepts secular humanism affirmative ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does an affirmative humanist life look like for you? - How can you balance personal growth with societal service? A Different Perspective It may overlook spiritual needs some individuals find meaningful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affirmative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) [Humanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanism/) [Humanist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanist/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Supernaturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supernaturalism/) ## Related quotes > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Intelligent design theorists have learned a few lessons from the failures of their predecessors and have devised a more sophisticated strategy to compete head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-pennock/intelligent-design-theorists-have-learned-a-few-lessons-from-the/) Robert T. Pennock > [When I'm writing books, something weird happens; and the result is the books contain a large amount of what you could call 'supernaturalism.' As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/when-i-m-writing-books-something-weird-happens-and-the-result-is-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Two fundamental literary qualities: supernaturalism and irony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/two-fundamental-literary-qualities-supernaturalism-and-irony/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [“Each mind conceives god in its own way. There may be as many variation of the god figure as there are people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/each-mind-conceives-god-in-its-own-way-there-may-be-as-many-variation/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-indeed-an-absolute-materialist-so-far-as-actual-belief-goes-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't create unbelief or doubt in people's minds. When you do so you ruin their lives and you have nothing to give them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/don-t-create-unbelief-or-doubt-in-people-s-minds-when-you-do-so-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“At the same time, we may not as a culture be fond of old-fashioned supernaturalism, but we certainly like spirituality in whatever form we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/at-the-same-time-we-may-not-as-a-culture-be-fond-of-old-fashioned/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“When scientists are unable to explain a certain phenomenon, it does not prove that the phenomenon belongs in the paranormal domain. It means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-scientists-are-unable-to-explain-a-certain-phenomenon-it-does/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“There are many people, many worlds who believe in supernaturalism in one form or another... religion, if you like the word better. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-people-many-worlds-who-believe-in-supernaturalism-in/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Once you believe that god is not a private property of anybody, you are on your way to becoming a new messiah. Maybe your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-believe-that-god-is-not-a-private-property-of-anybody-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [The idea that human-transforming technology that mingles the dna of natural and synthetic beings and merges man with machines could somehow be used or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-horn/the-idea-that-human-transforming-technology-that-mingles-the-dna-of/) [Thomas Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-horn/) > [“Common people tend to term any kind of bizarre phenomenon as “paranormal” or “supernatural”. They often exaggerate it as the work of the Gods.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/common-people-tend-to-term-any-kind-of-bizarre-phenomenon-as/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“No knowledge comes from the outside world or an imaginary supernatural paradise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-knowledge-comes-from-the-outside-world-or-an-imaginary/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Religion can no longer rest its claims on a dogmatic supernaturalism, because any dogma that is irreconcilable with tested knowledge must be rejected... One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/religion-can-no-longer-rest-its-claims-on-a-dogmatic-supernaturalism/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) ## More by Corliss Lamont > [God, once imagined to be an omnipresent force throughout the whole world of nature and man. has been increasingly tending to seem omniabsent. Everywhere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/god-once-imagined-to-be-an-omnipresent-force-throughout-the-whole/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [There is no place in the Humanist worldview for either immortality or God in the valid meanings of those terms. Humanism contends that instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/there-is-no-place-in-the-humanist-worldview-for-either-immortality-or/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [The intuition of free will gives us the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/the-intuition-of-free-will-gives-us-the-truth/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [The theory that everyone acts from self-interest, direct or indirect, is psychologically unsound. . . . Throughout history . . . there have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/the-theory-that-everyone-acts-from-self-interest-direct-or-indirect/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [The highest ethical duty is often to discard the outmoded ethics of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/the-highest-ethical-duty-is-often-to-discard-the-outmoded-ethics-of/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [I believe firmly that in making ethical decisions, man has the prerogative of true freedom of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/i-believe-firmly-that-in-making-ethical-decisions-man-has-the/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [Most men, I am convinced, have an unmistakable feeling at the final moment of significant choice that they are making a free decision, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/most-men-i-am-convinced-have-an-unmistakable-feeling-at-the-final/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [The act of willing this or that, of choosing among various courses of conduct, is central in the realm of ethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/the-act-of-willing-this-or-that-of-choosing-among-various-courses-of/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [Overemphasis on the sex aspect of morality has led to a neglect of its other aspects and a narrowing of its range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/overemphasis-on-the-sex-aspect-of-morality-has-led-to-a-neglect-of/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [Supernatural entities simply do not exist. This nonreality of the supernatural means, on the human level, that men do not possess supernatural and immortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/supernatural-entities-simply-do-not-exist-this-nonreality-of-the/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [Humanism believes that the individual attains the good life by harmoniously combining personal satisfactions and continuous self-development with significant work and other activities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/humanism-believes-that-the-individual-attains-the-good-life-by/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [I think . . . that philosophy has the duty of pointing out the falsity of outworn religious ideas, however estimable they may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/i-think-that-philosophy-has-the-duty-of-pointing-out-the-falsity-of/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [Feelings of right and wrong that at first have their locus within the family gradually develop into a pattern for the tribe or city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/feelings-of-right-and-wrong-that-at-first-have-their-locus-within-the/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [Since Humanism as a functioning credo is so closely bound up with the methods of reason and science, plainly free speech and democracy are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/since-humanism-as-a-functioning-credo-is-so-closely-bound-up-with-the/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) > [The dynamic, creative present, however conditioned and restricted by the effects of prior presents, possesses genuine initiative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corliss-lamont/the-dynamic-creative-present-however-conditioned-and-restricted-by/) [Corliss Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) [Explore all 24 Corliss Lamont quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corliss-lamont/) ## More Affirmative quotes > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Without application of the mind; there is no drive for taking affirmative action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mercado/without-application-of-the-mind-there-is-no-drive-for-taking/) [Joseph Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mercado/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [I read American sagas (of the west) and I do not see people who went in search of material things. I see people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-read-american-sagas-of-the-west-and-i-do-not-see-people-who-went-in/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [The need of black conservatives to gain the respect of their white peers deeply shapes certain elements of their conservatism. In this regard, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-need-of-black-conservatives-to-gain-the-respect-of-their-white/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [My decision was sparked by affirmative action. There was a point in my life when affirmative action would have meant something to me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/my-decision-was-sparked-by-affirmative-action-there-was-a-point-in-my/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [Who knows what Yale thought it was getting when it hired Richard Rodriguez? The people who offered me the job thought there was nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/who-knows-what-yale-thought-it-was-getting-when-it-hired-richard/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [Donald Trump has done more for getting people to understand the importance of public policy that respond to public needs in an affirmative way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/donald-trump-has-done-more-for-getting-people-to-understand-the/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [If Barack Obama believes there are no victims in U.S, then I assume he'll shut down all the civil rights offices throughout the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-barack-obama-believes-there-are-no-victims-in-u-s-then-i-assume-he/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It has been proven now scientifically that, an affirmative thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/it-has-been-proven-now-scientifically-that-an-affirmative-thought-is/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [The purpose of affirmative action is to give our nation a way to finally address the systemic exclusion of individuals of talent on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-purpose-of-affirmative-action-is-to-give-our-nation-a-way-to/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Affirmative action has a negative effect on our society when it means counting us like so many beans and dividing us into separate piles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/affirmative-action-has-a-negative-effect-on-our-society-when-it-means/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [I answer in the affirmative with an emphatic 'No.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyle-roche/i-answer-in-the-affirmative-with-an-emphatic-no/) [Boyle Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyle-roche/) > [Quality of life is the sum total of the fairness of our tax structure; the caliber of our homes; the cleanliness of our air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mccall/quality-of-life-is-the-sum-total-of-the-fairness-of-our-tax-structure/) [Tom McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-mccall/) > [I suppose I was dying again, so I asked the Lord of Permanent Affection for the strength to live the day. Clearly, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/i-suppose-i-was-dying-again-so-i-asked-the-lord-of-permanent/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 216 Affirmative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. 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