--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humans aren't inherently good- a…" description: "\"“Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous proposition. Instinctively, people are barbarians. Cannibals, even. They eat each other alive, get off on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg" --- # Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous proposition… ![“Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous proposition. Instinctively, people are barbarians. Cannibals, even. They eat each other alive, get off on torture, inflicting pain. This is not the image of the Gospel God. If God is love, and God is infinite, love would by definition be infinite. But…” quote by Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg) > ““Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous proposition. Instinctively, people are barbarians. Cannibals, even. They eat each other alive, get off on torture, inflicting pain. This is not the image of the Gospel God. If God is love, and God is infinite, love would by definition be infinite. But love, for most, is a means to an end, and even in its purest form, it is fleeting. Not infinite.”” [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is portrayed as fundamentally selfish and violent, challenging the notion of inherent goodness. **In simple terms:** People are often driven by selfish, violent instincts. Key Takeaway Recognize the complexity of human behavior. Themes human nature violence morality philosophy Mood reflective critical philosophical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - social work - conflict resolution - personal growth - education Key Concepts psychology sociology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Is humanity inherently good or bad? - How can societies foster compassion despite innate aggression? A Different Perspective Assuming inherent goodness may ignore real destructive tendencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Infinite love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Eternal suffering awaits anyone who questions god's infinite love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/eternal-suffering-awaits-anyone-who-questions-god-s-infinite-love/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [The existence of God is infinite love itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masahisa-goi/the-existence-of-god-is-infinite-love-itself/) [Masahisa Goi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masahisa-goi/) > [The whole image is that eternal suffering awaits anyone who questions God's infinite love. That's the message we're brought up with, isn't it? Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/the-whole-image-is-that-eternal-suffering-awaits-anyone-who-questions/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [God is the evolutionary impulse of the universe. God is infinite creativity, infinite love, infinite compassion, infinite caring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/god-is-the-evolutionary-impulse-of-the-universe-god-is-infinite/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Why Won’t We Be Bored in Heaven? Because we are with God, and God is infinite. We never come to the end of exploring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/why-won-t-we-be-bored-in-heaven-because-we-are-with-god-and-god-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Thou shall love the Lord with thy whole heart, soul, and mind. This is the commandment of the Great God, and he cannot command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/thou-shall-love-the-lord-with-thy-whole-heart-soul-and-mind-this-is/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“You can go as far as your mind let you. The power of imagination makes us infinite. To love means loving the unlovable. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesha-k-shah/you-can-go-as-far-as-your-mind-let-you-the-power-of-imagination-makes/) [Aesha K Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesha-k-shah/) > [“God is love, as Scripture says, and that means the revelation is in the relationship. 'God is love' means God is known devotionally, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/god-is-love-as-scripture-says-and-that-means-the-revelation-is-in-the/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“Mantra for Life — “Love Is the Way” Love is the way to enlightenment. Love is the way to happiness. Love is the way to peace. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srinivart/mantra-for-life-love-is-the-way-love-is-the-way-to-enlightenment-love/) [Srinivart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srinivart/) > [God is love, if you don't love, it means that God is not within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ryan-violeta/god-is-love-if-you-don-t-love-it-means-that-god-is-not-within-you/) [John Ryan Violeta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ryan-violeta/) > [Television isn't inherently good or bad. You go to a bookstore, there are how many thousands of books, but how many of those do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/television-isn-t-inherently-good-or-bad-you-go-to-a-bookstore-there/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [All human beings are inherently good, so when someone goes off the rails, there must be some mitigating factor - he was bullied, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/all-human-beings-are-inherently-good-so-when-someone-goes-off-the/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [If you think people are inherently good, you get rid of the police for 24 hours - see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/if-you-think-people-are-inherently-good-you-get-rid-of-the-police-for/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Science is not inherently good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/science-is-not-inherently-good/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I am an optimist, and I believe that people are inherently good and that if you give everyone a voice and freedom of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-am-an-optimist-and-i-believe-that-people-are-inherently-good-and/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) ## More by Ellen Hopkins > [“I've been alone since my mom met Scott. He sucked the nectar from her heart like a famished butterfly. No nurture, no nourishment left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-ve-been-alone-since-my-mom-met-scott-he-sucked-the-nectar-from-her/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [I wonder how long it would take him to realize I'm right as sin - it's the rest of the world that's wrong. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-wonder-how-long-it-would-take-him-to-realize-i-m-right-as-sin-it-s/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Do you know how beautiful you are?' I shook my head 'I'm not. But you make me fell like I am.' I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/do-you-know-how-beautiful-you-are-i-shook-my-head-i-m-not-but-you/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [That's what I'll be. A silhouette, rarely seen, and yet believed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/that-s-what-i-ll-be-a-silhouette-rarely-seen-and-yet-believed-in/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [One foot in front of the other, counting tiles on the floor so I don't have to focus the blur of painted smiles, fake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/one-foot-in-front-of-the-other-counting-tiles-on-the-floor-so-i-don-t/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [...life is all about chances. You might be safer not taking any. But playing it totally safe means you're only existing. Not living. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/life-is-all-about-chances-you-might-be-safer-not-taking-any-but/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [The truth is, I don't have a real clue what love is - how to find it, how to give it. Once upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/the-truth-is-i-don-t-have-a-real-clue-what-love-is-how-to-find-it-how/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [But death doesn't scare me. To know exactly when I might expect it, up close and in my face, would actually be a comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/but-death-doesn-t-scare-me-to-know-exactly-when-i-might-expect-it-up/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [So You Want to Know All about her. Who she really is. (Was?) Why she swerved off the high road. Hard left to nowhere,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/so-you-want-to-know-all-about-her-who-she-really-is-was-why-she/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [“I don’t belong here. I know that. But I don’t belong anywhere else, either. And that is at the heart of the black depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-don-t-belong-here-i-know-that-but-i-don-t-belong-anywhere-else/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Six months since we met up again we are inseparable, an intricate weave. No longer do I believe this is a temporary fling. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/six-months-since-we-met-up-again-we-are-inseparable-an-intricate/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [“But who ever said the easiest path is the one you should choose?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/but-who-ever-said-the-easiest-path-is-the-one-you-should-choose/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Afraid to Die Loveless Because I think if you die without knowing love in this life, that's how you'll spend eternity. Alone. Frozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/afraid-to-die-loveless-because-i-think-if-you-die-without-knowing/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Every high has an equal, measurable low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/every-high-has-an-equal-measurable-low/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Don't Stop ...down, ...Down there ...down where ...monsters, ...Run!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/don-t-stop-down-down-there-down-where-monsters-run/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) [Explore all 534 Ellen Hopkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous proposition. Instinctively, people are barbarians. Cannibals, even. They eat each other alive, get off on torture, inflicting pain. This is not the image of the Gospel God. If God is love, and God is infinite, love would by definition be infinite. But love, for most, is a means to an end, and even in its purest form, it is fleeting. Not infinite.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Hopkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrous-proposition-instinctively/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrous-proposition-instinctively/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/932/ellen-hopkins-475_christianity_humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrou_2690090.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous proposition. Instinctively, people are barbarians. Cannibals…” — Ellen Hopkins", "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": "Ellen Hopkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Humans aren't inherently good- a ludicrous...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrous-proposition-instinctively/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/humans-aren-t-inherently-good-a-ludicrous-proposition-instinctively/#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 } } ] } ```