--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The human being is given by Nature little…" description: "\"“The human being is given by Nature little more energy than what is needed to maintain the species; to reproduce and to live out our (very short) spans..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/doris-lessing-501_life_the-human-being-is-given-by-nature-littl_2077493.png" --- # The human being is given by Nature little more energy than… ![“The human being is given by Nature little more energy than what is needed to maintain the species; to reproduce and to live out our (very short) spans. But if we want to be fit for the journey up and out of the limits of ordinary life, we have to learn not to waste energy. Which we do by busying…” quote by Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/doris-lessing-501_life_the-human-being-is-given-by-nature-littl_2077493.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/doris-lessing-501_life_the-human-being-is-given-by-nature-littl_2077493.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/doris-lessing-501_life_the-human-being-is-given-by-nature-littl_2077493.png) > ““The human being is given by Nature little more energy than what is needed to maintain the species; to reproduce and to live out our (very short) spans. But if we want to be fit for the journey up and out of the limits of ordinary life, we have to learn not to waste energy. Which we do by busying ourselves too much with material things, and by using our minds in wasteful and damaging ways. You will have seen that I am describing concepts familiar to us from religions, put here in a different context, rescued from being 'sins' or sources of guilt, reintroduced, simply, as tools. It is not 'wicked' to eat and drink too much, not a 'sin' to be envious, but gluttony makes 'the Way' difficult; and thoughts of enmity keep the mind in a seethe, making subtler inputs impossible. And, besides, laws operate that we have not been taught about, whether we have had the benefits of religions or not. Thoughts of anger, jealousy, enmity, revenge, bring retribution. There is nothing theoretical about this: slowly you learn to see patterns where before you saw nothing, because you were over-emotional.”” [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates conserving personal energy by avoiding material excess and harmful emotions, framing them as tools rather than sins. **In simple terms:** Save energy by limiting wasteful habits and negative feelings. Key Takeaway Use energy wisely, avoid excess. Themes self‑control energy spirituality Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - relationship management - financial budgeting - creative work Key Concepts mindfulness psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Which habits drain your energy? - How can you transform envy into motivation? 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