--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That man can destroy life is just as…" description: "\"That man can destroy life is just as miraculous a feat as that he can create it, for life is the miracle, the inexplicable. In the act of destruction, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/erich-fromm-367_choices_that-man-can-destroy-life-is-just-as-mir_3189716.jpg" --- # That man can destroy life is just as miraculous a feat as… ![“That man can destroy life is just as miraculous a feat as that he can create it, for life is the miracle, the inexplicable. In the act of destruction, man sets himself above life; he transcends himself as a creature. Thus, the ultimate choice for a man, inasmuch as he is driven to transcend…” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/erich-fromm-367_choices_that-man-can-destroy-life-is-just-as-mir_3189716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/erich-fromm-367_choices_that-man-can-destroy-life-is-just-as-mir_3189716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/erich-fromm-367_choices_that-man-can-destroy-life-is-just-as-mir_3189716.jpg) > “That man can destroy life is just as miraculous a feat as that he can create it, for life is the miracle, the inexplicable. In the act of destruction, man sets himself above life; he transcends himself as a creature. Thus, the ultimate choice for a man, inasmuch as he is driven to transcend himself, is to create or to destroy, to love or to hate.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human power to create or destroy reflects a deep moral choice; embracing creation aligns with life's inherent miracle. **In simple terms:** Choose creation over destruction, honoring life's mystery. Key Takeaway Prefer creation, reject destruction. Themes ethics human nature choice Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - conflict resolution - artistic work Key Concepts creation destruction love hate Questions to Reflect On - What drives your creative impulses? - How do you resist destructive urges? A Different Perspective Might oversimplify complex moral contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Feats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feats/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miraculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miraculous/) ## Related quotes > [For some men the power to destroy life becomes the equivalent to the female power to create life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myriam-miedzian/for-some-men-the-power-to-destroy-life-becomes-the-equivalent-to-the/) [Myriam Miedzian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myriam-miedzian/) > [“If life transcends death, then I will seek for you there. If not, then there too.” He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/if-life-transcends-death-then-i-will-seek-for-you-there-if-not-then/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [There is a conservation of matter and of energy, there may be a conservation of life; or if not of life, of something which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-lodge/there-is-a-conservation-of-matter-and-of-energy-there-may-be-a/) [Oliver Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-lodge/) > [“If life transcends death, then I will search for you there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/if-life-transcends-death-then-i-will-search-for-you-there/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [The whole trajectory of my life has changed through the realization that life transcends self sustenance and the challenges we try to solve. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-chasara/the-whole-trajectory-of-my-life-has-changed-through-the-realization/) [Trinity Chasara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-chasara/) > [... on every important issue life transcends logic and it is folly to depend on reason alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gordis/on-every-important-issue-life-transcends-logic-and-it-is-folly-to/) [Robert Gordis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gordis/) > [“Live a life that transcends your own!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hh-the-dalai-lama/live-a-life-that-transcends-your-own/) HH The Dalai Lama > [Man lives in time but his life transcends time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/man-lives-in-time-but-his-life-transcends-time/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [If we do destroy most life on this planet, science says it won't be the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/if-we-do-destroy-most-life-on-this-planet-science-says-it-won-t-be/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [I realized I was afraid of living without him. How is it you have the right to destroy my life, I wanted to demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-realized-i-was-afraid-of-living-without-him-how-is-it-you-have-the/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [Is love supposed to ruin you? It seems to me you shouldn't destroy yourself out of life for purposes of love--or what good is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/is-love-supposed-to-ruin-you-it-seems-to-me-you-shouldn-t-destroy/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“a big corporation will destroy your life, your hopes and your dreams accidentally, without even noticing, and still won’t give a damn afterwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-h-thomson/a-big-corporation-will-destroy-your-life-your-hopes-and-your-dreams/) [L.H. Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-h-thomson/) > [You can destroy a factory, and they'll build another. But once you destroy a life, that's it. You never get that person back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/you-can-destroy-a-factory-and-they-ll-build-another-but-once-you/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [You destroy my life then feed me inspirational philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-destroy-my-life-then-feed-me-inspirational-philosophy/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [You shouldn't let someone life to destroy your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/you-shouldn-t-let-someone-life-to-destroy-your-life/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That man can destroy life is just as miraculous a feat as that he can create it, for life is the miracle, the inexplicable. 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