Human condition Quote by Hannah Arendt
““The human condition comprehends more than the conditions under which life has been given to man. Men are conditioned beings because everything they come in contact with turns immediately into a condition of their existence. The world in which the vita activa spends itself consists of things produced by human activities; but the things that owe their existence exclusively to men nevertheless constantly condition their human makers. In addition to the conditions under which life is given to man on earth, and partly out of them, men constantly create their own, self-made conditions, which, their human origin and their variability notwithstanding, possess the same conditioning power as natural things. Whatever touches or enters into a sustained relationship with human life immediately assumes the character of a condition of human existence. This is why men, no matter what they do, are always conditioned beings. Whatever enters the human world of its own accord or is drawn into it by human effort becomes part of the human condition. The impact of the world’s reality upon human existence is felt and received as a conditioning force. The objectivity of the world—its object- or thing-character—and the human condition supplement each other; because human existence is conditioned existence, it would be impossible without things, and things would be a heap of unrelated articles, a non-world, if they were not the conditioners of human existence.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt, 1958
The passage argues that humans are constantly shaped by both natural and self‑created conditions, making existence a web of mutual conditioning.
In simple terms: People and their environments continuously influence each other, forming a complex web of conditions.
Recognize and shape the conditions you create.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- social policy
- urban planning
- personal development
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify self‑made conditions in your life?
- Can you alter the conditions that shape you?
Human agency is limited by existing structures, making change difficult.