--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What the intellectual craves above all…" description: "\"What the intellectual craves above all else is to be taken seriously, to be treated as a decisive force in shaping history. He is far more at home in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/eric-hoffer-343_attitude_what-the-intellectual-craves-above-all-e_1334119.jpg" --- # What the intellectual craves above all else is to be taken… ![“What the intellectual craves above all else is to be taken seriously, to be treated as a decisive force in shaping history. He is far more at home in a society that weighs his every word and keeps close watch on his attitudes then in a society that cares not what he says or does. He would rather…” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/eric-hoffer-343_attitude_what-the-intellectual-craves-above-all-e_1334119.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/eric-hoffer-343_attitude_what-the-intellectual-craves-above-all-e_1334119.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/eric-hoffer-343_attitude_what-the-intellectual-craves-above-all-e_1334119.jpg) > “What the intellectual craves above all else is to be taken seriously, to be treated as a decisive force in shaping history. He is far more at home in a society that weighs his every word and keeps close watch on his attitudes then in a society that cares not what he says or does. He would rather be persecuted than ignored.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectuals crave recognition and influence, preferring societies that scrutinize them over those that ignore them, even if it leads to persecution. **In simple terms:** Intellectuals want to be taken seriously and influence history. Key Takeaway Seek environments that value your ideas. Themes recognition influence societal scrutiny persecution legacy Mood thoughtful critical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic circles - political activism - media commentary - leadership roles Key Concepts philosophy social dynamics identity Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer being noticed or being ignored? - How does scrutiny shape your work? A Different Perspective Being ignored can also diminish impact; not all scrutiny is constructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Crave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crave/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignored/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Persecuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecuted/) [Persecuted Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecuted-ignored-4486298/) [Shaping History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaping-history-1445020/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Taken Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-seriously/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) ## Related quotes > [“The very shaping of history now outpaces the ability of men to orient themselves in accordance with cherished values. Even when they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills-2/the-very-shaping-of-history-now-outpaces-the-ability-of-men-to-orient-2/) [C.Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills-2/) > [The very shaping of history now outpaces the ability of men to orient themselves in accordance with cherished values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/the-very-shaping-of-history-now-outpaces-the-ability-of-men-to-orient/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [“tyrants always set about shaping history after their liking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bond/tyrants-always-set-about-shaping-history-after-their-liking/) [Douglas Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bond/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Never have the young taken themselves so seriously, and the calamity is that they are listened to and deferred to by so many adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/never-have-the-young-taken-themselves-so-seriously-and-the-calamity/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [That which corrodes the souls of the persecuted is the monstrous inner agreement with the prevailing prejudice against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/that-which-corrodes-the-souls-of-the-persecuted-is-the-monstrous/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Life is too serious to be taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leonard/life-is-too-serious-to-be-taken-seriously/) [Mike Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leonard/) > [There have been occasions when some people have taken me very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/there-have-been-occasions-when-some-people-have-taken-me-very/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [“You think it's all rather too "New Age" to be taken seriously, eh?' 'Not at all.' 'But it's an ancient discipline...' 'New Age disciplines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-barker/you-think-it-s-all-rather-too-new-age-to-be-taken-seriously-eh-not-at/) [Nicola Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-barker/) > [I would love to see women be able to be powerful, complex, smart, opinionated and taken seriously, even if they are beautiful. Even more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/i-would-love-to-see-women-be-able-to-be-powerful-complex-smart/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [I want to be taken seriously as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-marais/i-want-to-be-taken-seriously-as-a-musician/) [Jonah Marais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-marais/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Being taken seriously was always the biggest challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/being-taken-seriously-was-always-the-biggest-challenge/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [In a general way, anything that affects men is taken more seriously than anything that affects only women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/in-a-general-way-anything-that-affects-men-is-taken-more-seriously/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [If there's anything I hate more than not being taken seriously, it's being taken too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/if-there-s-anything-i-hate-more-than-not-being-taken-seriously-it-s/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What the intellectual craves above all else is to be taken seriously, to be treated as a decisive force in shaping history. 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