--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would a CONSCIOUS human being destroy…" description: "\"Would a CONSCIOUS human being destroy himself through war, and crime, and quarrels? No, a man simply knows not what he does to himself.\" — G. I. Gurdjieff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_conscious_would-a-conscious-human-being-destroy-hi_2400742.jpg" --- # Would a CONSCIOUS human being destroy himself through war… ![“Would a CONSCIOUS human being destroy himself through war, and crime, and quarrels? No, a man simply knows not what he does to himself.” quote by G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_conscious_would-a-conscious-human-being-destroy-hi_2400742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_conscious_would-a-conscious-human-being-destroy-hi_2400742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/g-i-gurdjieff-11640_conscious_would-a-conscious-human-being-destroy-hi_2400742.jpg) > “Would a CONSCIOUS human being destroy himself through war, and crime, and quarrels? No, a man simply knows not what he does to himself.” [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans often act destructively without true self‑awareness, leading to war and crime. **In simple terms:** People harm themselves unknowingly. Key Takeaway Cultivate deeper self‑knowledge to avoid self‑destruction. Themes philosophy self‑awareness conflict Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - conflict resolution - education Key Concepts psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What practices deepen self‑awareness? - Can society change without individual insight? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge alone may not prevent external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [A bad workman quarrels with the man who calls him that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-workman-quarrels-with-the-man-who-calls-him-that/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-coward-is-much-more-exposed-to-quarrels-than-a-man-of-spirit/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A man has not the time to spend half his life in quarrels. If any man ceases to attack me, I never remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/a-man-has-not-the-time-to-spend-half-his-life-in-quarrels-if-any-man/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [War destroys the world, but the truth is that the world can destroy a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-jensen/war-destroys-the-world-but-the-truth-is-that-the-world-can-destroy-a/) Alexander Jensen > [“An idea can destroy the mind of a human being, twist it into a dark path of destruction and illness. But only the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid/an-idea-can-destroy-the-mind-of-a-human-being-twist-it-into-a-dark/) Ingrid > [The aim of torture is to destroy a person as a human being, to destroy their identity and soul. It is more evil than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inge-genefke/the-aim-of-torture-is-to-destroy-a-person-as-a-human-being-to-destroy-2/) Inge Genefke > [No human being can destroy the structure of a marriage except the two who made it. It is the one human edifice that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-bristow/no-human-being-can-destroy-the-structure-of-a-marriage-except-the-two/) [Gwen Bristow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-bristow/) > [Part of being a conscious human being, is having an intention. And if you put an intention into whatever you do, it’s definitely going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-guinness/part-of-being-a-conscious-human-being-is-having-an-intention-and-if/) [Daphne Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-guinness/) > [“You are not white, but a rainbow of colors. You are not black, but golden. You are not just a nationality, but a citizen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/you-are-not-white-but-a-rainbow-of-colors-you-are-not-black-but/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [If the concept of consciousness were to fall to science, what would happen to our sense of moral agency and free will? If conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/if-the-concept-of-consciousness-were-to-fall-to-science-what-would/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [If you are a conscious human being who has opinions about the world, then you will unconsciously put your own perspective into the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/if-you-are-a-conscious-human-being-who-has-opinions-about-the-world/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [Creativity is the encounter of the intensively conscious human being with his world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/creativity-is-the-encounter-of-the-intensively-conscious-human-being/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“A conscious human is driven by their conscience, not popular opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/a-conscious-human-is-driven-by-their-conscience-not-popular-opinion/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [One of the problems with being relatively conscious and human, is that you want to help everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/one-of-the-problems-with-being-relatively-conscious-and-human-is-that/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I do think that at least when we're thinking about ourselves as living, conscious, human beings we are dynamic wholes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alva-noe/i-do-think-that-at-least-when-we-re-thinking-about-ourselves-as/) [Alva Noe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alva-noe/) ## More by G. I. Gurdjieff > [Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/nothing-can-be-attained-without-suffering-but-at-the-same-time-one/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [If you meditate and the Devil comes, make the Devil meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/if-you-meditate-and-the-devil-comes-make-the-devil-meditate/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [It is only by grounding our awareness in the living sensation of our bodies that the 'I Am,' our real presence, can awaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/it-is-only-by-grounding-our-awareness-in-the-living-sensation-of-our/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Those who have not sown anything during their responsible life will have nothing to reap in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/those-who-have-not-sown-anything-during-their-responsible-life-will/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Try to understand what I am saying: everything is dependent on everything else, everything is connected, nothing is separate. Therefore everything is going in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/try-to-understand-what-i-am-saying-everything-is-dependent-on/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [From my point of view, he can be called a remarkable man who stands out from those around him by the resourcefulness of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/from-my-point-of-view-he-can-be-called-a-remarkable-man-who-stands/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [To know all, it is necessary to know very little; but to know that very little, one must first know pretty much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/to-know-all-it-is-necessary-to-know-very-little-but-to-know-that-very/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Hope of consciousness is strength Hope of feelings is slavery Hope of body is disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/hope-of-consciousness-is-strength-hope-of-feelings-is-slavery-hope-of/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [The degree of consciousness corresponds to the degree of density or the speed of vibrations. The denser the matter, the less conscious it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/the-degree-of-consciousness-corresponds-to-the-degree-of-density-or/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Knowledge by itself does not give understanding. Nor is understanding increased by an increase of knowledge alone. Understanding depends upon the relation of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/knowledge-by-itself-does-not-give-understanding-nor-is-understanding/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [A miracle is not the breaking of physical laws, but rather represents laws which are incomprehensible to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/a-miracle-is-not-the-breaking-of-physical-laws-but-rather-represents/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [Sincerity is the key which will open the door through which you will see your separate parts, and you will see something quite new.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/sincerity-is-the-key-which-will-open-the-door-through-which-you-will/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [If a man could understand all the horror of the lives of ordinary people who are turning around in a circle of insignificant interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/if-a-man-could-understand-all-the-horror-of-the-lives-of-ordinary/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [That which is easy is bad for your inner life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/that-which-is-easy-is-bad-for-your-inner-life/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) > [My way is to develop the hidden potentialities of man; a way that is against Nature and against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/my-way-is-to-develop-the-hidden-potentialities-of-man-a-way-that-is/) [G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) [Explore all 59 G. I. Gurdjieff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/) ## More Conscious quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [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/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/repugnant-is-a-creature-who-would-squander-the-ability-to-lift-an-eye/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/) [David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/) > [I know one thing: that you can do a lot of things but if you don't educate people into conscious anarchism it gets frittered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-know-one-thing-that-you-can-do-a-lot-of-things-but-if-you-don-t/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-nkosi/all-black-people-who-are-even-minimally-conscious-black-people-who/) [Lewis Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-nkosi/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I don't think my paintings are self-conscious but you feel the consciousness of them. Without them being self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-don-t-think-my-paintings-are-self-conscious-but-you-feel-the/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) Browse all 3,716 Conscious quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Would a CONSCIOUS human being destroy himself through war, and crime, and quarrels? No, a man simply knows not what he does to himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G. I. 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