--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has here happened is that the…" description: "\"What has here happened is that the instinct of cruelty, which has turned inwards, has become self-torture, and all man's animal instincts have been rei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/georg-brandes-10610_affirmation_what-has-here-happened-is-that-the-insti_538490.jpg" --- # What has here happened is that the instinct of cruelty… ![“What has here happened is that the instinct of cruelty, which has turned inwards, has become self-torture, and all man's animal instincts have been reinterpreted as guilt towards God. Every Nay man utters to his nature, to his real being, he flings out as a Yea, an affirmation of reality applied…” quote by Georg Brandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/georg-brandes-10610_affirmation_what-has-here-happened-is-that-the-insti_538490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/georg-brandes-10610_affirmation_what-has-here-happened-is-that-the-insti_538490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/georg-brandes-10610_affirmation_what-has-here-happened-is-that-the-insti_538490.jpg) > “What has here happened is that the instinct of cruelty, which has turned inwards, has become self-torture, and all man's animal instincts have been reinterpreted as guilt towards God. Every Nay man utters to his nature, to his real being, he flings out as a Yea, an affirmation of reality applied to God's sanctity” [Georg Brandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-brandes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that human cruelty has turned inward, becoming self‑inflicted suffering, and that natural instincts are now judged as guilt before God. **In simple terms:** Cruelty becomes self‑pain; instincts feel sinful. Key Takeaway Recognize and release self‑imposed guilt. Themes psychology religion ethics human nature Mood reflective somber introspective Type philosophical critical literary When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - spiritual counseling - ethical debates - literary analysis Key Concepts self‑torture guilt instincts spiritual conflict Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish between healthy conscience and imposed guilt? - Can compassion replace self‑torture? A Different Perspective It may overgeneralize religious experience and ignore secular perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affirmation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-instinct/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Cruelty Turned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty-turned-4508550/) [Fling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fling/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Guilt God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt-god-1813139/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instinct Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct-cruelty-4508551/) [Man U](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-u/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reinterpreted Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reinterpreted-guilt-4508552/) [Sanctity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) ## Related quotes > [“You will have guessed what has really happened here, beneath all this: that will to self-tormenting, that repressed cruelty of the animal-man made inward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-will-have-guessed-what-has-really-happened-here-beneath-all-this/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Guilt is not of God. 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