--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human material seems to have one major…" description: "\"Human material seems to have one major defect: it does not like to be considered merely as human material. It finds it hard to endure the feeling that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/czeslaw-milosz-7653_acceptance_human-material-seems-to-have-one-major-d_1730746.jpg" --- # Human material seems to have one major defect: it does not… ![“Human material seems to have one major defect: it does not like to be considered merely as human material. It finds it hard to endure the feeling that it must resign itself to passive acceptance of changes introduced from above.” quote by Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/czeslaw-milosz-7653_acceptance_human-material-seems-to-have-one-major-d_1730746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/czeslaw-milosz-7653_acceptance_human-material-seems-to-have-one-major-d_1730746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba7/czeslaw-milosz-7653_acceptance_human-material-seems-to-have-one-major-d_1730746.jpg) > “Human material seems to have one major defect: it does not like to be considered merely as human material. It finds it hard to endure the feeling that it must resign itself to passive acceptance of changes introduced from above.” [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans resist being seen merely as material, struggling with passive acceptance of top‑down changes. **In simple terms:** People dislike being treated as objects and resist imposed changes. Key Takeaway Promote agency and respect for human dignity. Themes human dignity resistance authority Mood empathetic inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace reforms - political policy - social movements Key Concepts materialism passive acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders involve people in decisions? - What empowers individuals against passive roles? A Different Perspective Change imposed without consent breeds resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Acceptance Of Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance-of-change-227241/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-material-1428596/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Material Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-major-1428597/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive/) [Passive Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive-acceptance-405199/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) ## Related quotes > [Washington is still very much a male-oriented culture. Being from Los Angeles, I think it is less so there - there is less attachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-dee-myers/washington-is-still-very-much-a-male-oriented-culture-being-from-los/) [Dee Dee Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-dee-myers/) > [“human material existence is limited by ideas, not by stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/human-material-existence-is-limited-by-ideas-not-by-stuff/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Human material existence is limited by ideas, not stuff, people don't need copper wires they need ways to communicate, oil was a contaminant, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-romer/human-material-existence-is-limited-by-ideas-not-stuff-people-don-t/) [Paul Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-romer/) > [“Humility is a passive acceptance of the process of life; love is an active participation in that process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-un-mares/humility-is-a-passive-acceptance-of-the-process-of-life-love-is-an/) [Théun Mares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-un-mares/) > [Passive acceptance of the teacher's wisdom is easy to most boys and girls. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-don-t-want-you-to-praise-me-some-praise-me-because-i-am-a-colored/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [With all of its defects, the global market makes war less likely, even between the USA and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/with-all-of-its-defects-the-global-market-makes-war-less-likely-even/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) ## More by Czeslaw Milosz > [The child who dwells inside us trusts that there are wise men somewhere who know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-child-who-dwells-inside-us-trusts-that-there-are-wise-men/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [We have become indifferent to content, and react, not even to form, but to technique, to technical efficiency itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/we-have-become-indifferent-to-content-and-react-not-even-to-form-but/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“And Yet the Books And yet the books will be there on the shelves, separate beings, That appeared once, still wet As shining chestnuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/and-yet-the-books-and-yet-the-books-will-be-there-on-the-shelves/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“When someone is honestly 55 percent right, that’s very good and there’s no use wrangling. And if someone is 60 percent right, it’s wonderful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/when-someone-is-honestly-55-percent-right-that-s-very-good-and-there/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“The worst possible sexual education: a taboo imposed by the Catholic church plus romantic literature elevating love to unreal heights plus the obscene language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-worst-possible-sexual-education-a-taboo-imposed-by-the-catholic/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [And if there is no lining to the world? If a thrush on a branch is not a sign, But just a thrush on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/and-if-there-is-no-lining-to-the-world-if-a-thrush-on-a-branch-is-not/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [At every sunrise I renounce the doubts of night and greet the new day of a most precious delusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/at-every-sunrise-i-renounce-the-doubts-of-night-and-greet-the-new-day/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [The soul exceeds its circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-soul-exceeds-its-circumstances/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [I imagine the earth when I am no more: Women's dresses, dewy lilacs, a song in the valley. Yet the books will be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/i-imagine-the-earth-when-i-am-no-more-women-s-dresses-dewy-lilacs-a/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [There was a time when only wise books were read helping us to bear our pain and misery. This, after all, is not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/there-was-a-time-when-only-wise-books-were-read-helping-us-to-bear/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [If I am all mankind, are they themselves without me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/if-i-am-all-mankind-are-they-themselves-without-me/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“In the very essence of poetry there is something indecent; A thing brought forth that we didn't know we had in us, So we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/in-the-very-essence-of-poetry-there-is-something-indecent-a-thing/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [Consolation Calm down. Both your sins and your good deeds will be lost in oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/consolation-calm-down-both-your-sins-and-your-good-deeds-will-be-lost/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [I am composed of contradictions, which is why poetry is a better form for me than philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/i-am-composed-of-contradictions-which-is-why-poetry-is-a-better-form/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [Every poet depends upon generations who wrote in his native tongue; he inherits styles and forms elaborated by those who lived before him. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/every-poet-depends-upon-generations-who-wrote-in-his-native-tongue-he/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) [Explore all 89 Czeslaw Milosz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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