--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said…" description: "\"He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, \"I am looking for a human.\"\" — Diogenes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png" --- # He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went… ![“He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, "I am looking for a human."” quote by Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png) > “He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, "I am looking for a human."” [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He performed a paradoxical act to highlight the rarity of genuine humanity in society. **In simple terms:** He searched for true humanity in daylight. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in others. Themes philosophy authenticity human nature Mood reflective provocative Type aphilosophical satirical When to use this quote - daily interactions - leadership - community building Key Concepts Cynicism paradox social critique Questions to Reflect On - What does “human” mean to you? - How can you recognize authenticity? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine kindness in the pursuit of rarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broad Daylight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broad-daylight-1213674/) [Broads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broads/) [Daylight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight/) [Daylight Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight-said-4042181/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lamp Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lamp-broad-4042180/) [Lamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lamps/) [Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lit/) [Lit Lamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lit-lamp-4042179/) [Looking Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-human-1306685/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) ## Related quotes > [I am looking for a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/i-am-looking-for-a-human/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Terrorism is not something that is being conducted in dark corners of Pakistan. It's done in broad daylight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/terrorism-is-not-something-that-is-being-conducted-in-dark-corners-of/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [“Ships passing in broad daylight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/ships-passing-in-broad-daylight/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [We live in a world where we have to hide to make love, while violence is practiced in broad daylight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-live-in-a-world-where-we-have-to-hide-to-make-love-while-violence/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Broad daylight does not encourage the apprehension of horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/broad-daylight-does-not-encourage-the-apprehension-of-horror/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [Genius, like a torch, shines less in the broad daylight of the present than in the night of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/genius-like-a-torch-shines-less-in-the-broad-daylight-of-the-present/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [Truth strikes us from behind and in the dark, as well as from before and in broad daylight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/truth-strikes-us-from-behind-and-in-the-dark-as-well-as-from-before/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [This dim coolness of my room was to the broad daylight of the street what the shadow is to the sunbeam, that is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/this-dim-coolness-of-my-room-was-to-the-broad-daylight-of-the-street/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Peter Mandelson is the only man I know who can skulk in broad daylight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/peter-mandelson-is-the-only-man-i-know-who-can-skulk-in-broad-daylight/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then know that something is after its life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/whenever-you-see-a-toad-jumping-in-broad-daylight-then-know-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [She is the one who lit the lamp of knowledge in my life and led me in the path of sucess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-is-the-one-who-lit-the-lamp-of-knowledge-in-my-life-and-led-me-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-11/no-one-when-he-has-lit-a-lamp-puts-it-in-a-cellar-or-under-a-basket/) [Luke 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-11/) > [It's a full on job just looking for human social responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-s-a-full-on-job-just-looking-for-human-social-responsibility/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [I feel that we have come a long way as American people, and we have to start looking at ourselves as human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-feel-that-we-have-come-a-long-way-as-american-people-and-we-have-to/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [I'm looking for human stories to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/i-m-looking-for-human-stories-to-do/) [Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/) ## More by Diogenes > [Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/dogs-and-philosophers-do-the-greatest-good-and-get-the-fewest-rewards/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Perdiccas threatened to put him to death unless he came to him, "That's nothing wonderful," Diogenes said, "for a beetle or a tarantula would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/perdiccas-threatened-to-put-him-to-death-unless-he-came-to-him-that-s/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [If only it was as easy to banish hunger by rubbing the belly as it is to masturbate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/if-only-it-was-as-easy-to-banish-hunger-by-rubbing-the-belly-as-it-is/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [He has the most who is most content with the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/he-has-the-most-who-is-most-content-with-the-least/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/in-a-rich-man-s-house-there-is-no-place-to-spit-but-his-face/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Chilo advised, "not to speak evil of the dead."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/chilo-advised-not-to-speak-evil-of-the-dead/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [There is a false love that will make you something you are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/there-is-a-false-love-that-will-make-you-something-you-are-not/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“And at last, becoming a complete misanthrope, he used to live, spending his time in walking about the mountains; feeding on grasses and plants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/and-at-last-becoming-a-complete-misanthrope-he-used-to-live-spending/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/most-men-are-within-a-finger-s-breadth-of-being-mad/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/it-takes-a-wise-man-to-discover-a-wise-man/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [I am Diogenes the Dog. I nuzzle the kind, bark at the greedy and bite scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/i-am-diogenes-the-dog-i-nuzzle-the-kind-bark-at-the-greedy-and-bite/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [To become self-educated you should condemn yourself for all those things that you would criticize others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/to-become-self-educated-you-should-condemn-yourself-for-all-those/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/it-is-the-privilege-of-the-gods-to-want-nothing-and-of-godlike-men-to/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/those-who-have-virtue-always-in-their-mouths-and-neglect-it-in/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [I am looking for a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/i-am-looking-for-a-human/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) [Explore all 114 Diogenes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) ## More Broads quotes > [Thoroughly understand what it is to understand, and not only will you understand the broad lines of all there is to be understood but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/thoroughly-understand-what-it-is-to-understand-and-not-only-will-you/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. 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Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/) > [Particularly the broad masses of the people can be moved only by the power of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/particularly-the-broad-masses-of-the-people-can-be-moved-only-by-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [So the first thing I learned about how to get superior performance is not to buy stocks that are near their lows, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-neil/so-the-first-thing-i-learned-about-how-to-get-superior-performance-is/) [William O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-neil/) > [Broad-based, inclusive growth is what we need in America, not more advantages for people at the very top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/broad-based-inclusive-growth-is-what-we-need-in-america-not-more/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jubilee 2000 is a broad coalition which has moved the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/jubilee-2000-is-a-broad-coalition-which-has-moved-the-earth/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [As science is more and more subject to grave misuse as well as to use for human benefit it has also become the scientist's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-science-is-more-and-more-subject-to-grave-misuse-as-well-as-to-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 956 Broads quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broads/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, \"I am looking for a human.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diogenes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said-as-he-went-about-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Broads" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said-as-he-went-about-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f07/diogenes-4214_broads_he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said_1266134.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He lit a lamp in broad daylight and said, as he went about, \"I am looking for a human.\"” — Diogenes", "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": "Diogenes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He lit a lamp in broad...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said-as-he-went-about-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/he-lit-a-lamp-in-broad-daylight-and-said-as-he-went-about-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```