--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no limit to suffering human…" description: "\"There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent, no matter how young, and no matter how old...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg" --- # There is no limit to suffering human beings have been… ![“There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent, no matter how young, and no matter how old. This fact must lead all reasonable human beings, that is, all human beings who take evidence seriously, to draw only one possible conclusion…” quote by Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg) > “There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent, no matter how young, and no matter how old. This fact must lead all reasonable human beings, that is, all human beings who take evidence seriously, to draw only one possible conclusion: Human nature is not basically good.” [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human history shows extensive cruelty across ages, suggesting that assuming innate human goodness is unreasonable; a more skeptical view of nature is warranted. **In simple terms:** Human nature is not inherently good. Key Takeaway Adopt a realistic view of humanity. Themes human nature morality history Mood serious skeptical Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - education - justice reform - media analysis Key Concepts philosophy ethics sociology Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports human goodness? - How can societies foster kindness? A Different Perspective Not all humans act cruelly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“Was there no limit to the suffering of human beings? The world was infested with these enclaves of savagery that awaited him in Putumayo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/was-there-no-limit-to-the-suffering-of-human-beings-the-world-was/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [If nothing else, there's comfort in recognising that no matter how much we fail and sin, death will limit our suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/if-nothing-else-there-s-comfort-in-recognising-that-no-matter-how/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [There is no limit to suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [It is when you experience another's suffering as your own that your human values is manifested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/it-is-when-you-experience-another-s-suffering-as-your-own-that-your/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [The chief cause of suffering for human beings is an inability to have things be the way they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-chief-cause-of-suffering-for-human-beings-is-an-inability-to-have/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [It is by suffering that human beings become angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/it-is-by-suffering-that-human-beings-become-angels/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“The first truth, Buddha taught his disciples, is that suffering is part of the human condition. If we simply try to avoid confronting painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-a-levine/the-first-truth-buddha-taught-his-disciples-is-that-suffering-is-part/) [Peter A. Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-a-levine/) > [“Julia never asked herself why bad things happen to good people, for she already knew the answer: bad things happen t everyone. Not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/julia-never-asked-herself-why-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-for/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [First of all, do any of you here think it's a crime to help a suffering human end his agony? Any of you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/first-of-all-do-any-of-you-here-think-it-s-a-crime-to-help-a/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [It is amazing that our souls - our eternal essences, with all their hopes and dreams and visions of an eternal world - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-woodman/it-is-amazing-that-our-souls-our-eternal-essences-with-all-their/) [Marion Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-woodman/) > [...morally speaking, there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings, that indifference to evil is worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/morally-speaking-there-is-no-limit-to-the-concern-one-must-feel-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Refusing to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/refusing-to-be-disillusioned-is-the-cause-of-much-of-the-suffering-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Most suffering is human-made and avoidable. It's mostly in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/most-suffering-is-human-made-and-avoidable-it-s-mostly-in-your-head/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [All that a pacifist can undertake -- but it is a very great deal -- is to refuse to kill, injure or otherwise cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-brittain/all-that-a-pacifist-can-undertake-but-it-is-a-very-great-deal-is-to/) [Vera Brittain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-brittain/) > [Our top priority is to relieve suffering of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/our-top-priority-is-to-relieve-suffering-of-human-beings/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) ## More by Dennis Prager > [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Nothing more guarantees the erosion of character than getting something for nothing. In the liberal welfare state, one develops an entitlement mentality. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/nothing-more-guarantees-the-erosion-of-character-than-getting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The biggest battle in life is with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-biggest-battle-in-life-is-with-yourself/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The Left will destroy what is good to try to make what is perfect. That is the motto of the Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-left-will-destroy-what-is-good-to-try-to-make-what-is-perfect/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“The poor who commit murder, rape and robbery are not only not starving, they have far more material things than the word ‘poverty’ suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-poor-who-commit-murder-rape-and-robbery-are-not-only-not-starving/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“When it comes to fighting evil, the left is almost pacifist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-it-comes-to-fighting-evil-the-left-is-almost-pacifist/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [When you are guaranteed you will win, you can take very inflammatory, very extreme positions. If you have to run in a district where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-you-are-guaranteed-you-will-win-you-can-take-very-inflammatory/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ If they \[liberals\] didn't believe we were mean spirited they couldn't stay liberal. They have to believe they mean better than us, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-they-liberals-didn-t-believe-we-were-mean-spirited-they-couldn-t/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“From Marx until today, victim groups have played an indispensable role in Leftist success. Without victim groups, the Left cannot succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/from-marx-until-today-victim-groups-have-played-an-indispensable-role/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Good and happy people who believe in God are the greatest living arguments for God's existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/good-and-happy-people-who-believe-in-god-are-the-greatest-living/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Leftism and narcissism are almost synonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/leftism-and-narcissism-are-almost-synonymous/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Humility is a fantastic trait and is one of the most important things we can have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/humility-is-a-fantastic-trait-and-is-one-of-the-most-important-things/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The bigger the State, the smaller the citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-bigger-the-state-the-smaller-the-citizen/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) [Explore all 437 Dennis Prager quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) ## More Conclusion quotes > [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/) [Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [The main conclusion here arrived at ... is that man is descended from some less highly organized form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-main-conclusion-here-arrived-at-is-that-man-is-descended-from/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. In the wide ocean upon which we venture, the possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-burckhardt/to-each-eye-perhaps-the-outlines-of-a-great-civilization-present-a/) [Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-burckhardt/) > [If you jump to conclusion you can't step on a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-santinello/if-you-jump-to-conclusion-you-can-t-step-on-a-clue/) [James Santinello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-santinello/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 1,619 Conclusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent, no matter how young, and no matter how old. This fact must lead all reasonable human beings, that is, all human beings who take evidence seriously, to draw only one possible conclusion: Human nature is not basically good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dennis Prager" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-beings-have-been-willing-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conclusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-beings-have-been-willing-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/dennis-prager-631_conclusion_there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-bei_139433.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent…” — Dennis Prager", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dennis Prager", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no limit to suffering...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-beings-have-been-willing-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-beings-have-been-willing-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```