--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man's condition is horrible because, no…" description: "\"Man's condition is horrible because, no matter what form his happiness may take, it arises from some species of ignorance.\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png" --- # Man's condition is horrible because, no matter what form… ![“Man's condition is horrible because, no matter what form his happiness may take, it arises from some species of ignorance.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png) > “Man's condition is horrible because, no matter what form his happiness may take, it arises from some species of ignorance.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human happiness is rooted in ignorance, as we often lack true understanding of our desires. **In simple terms:** Happiness stems from not knowing fully. Key Takeaway Seek deeper self‑knowledge. Themes philosophy ignorance human condition Mood thoughtful melancholic Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal growth - education - spiritual practice - therapy Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What ignorance fuels your happiness? - Can you be happy with full awareness? A Different Perspective Ignorance can also protect from disillusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Horrible Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible-matter-578577/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Man Condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-condition-578576/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [No matter what](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-matter-what/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-ignorance-578575/) ## Related quotes > [Divorce is horrible, no matter who instigates it. It's very traumatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-stein/divorce-is-horrible-no-matter-who-instigates-it-it-s-very-traumatic/) [Rick Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-stein/) > [Are you or aren't you convinced that weakness is a man's condition? How can you raise yourself if you haven't fallen first?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/are-you-or-aren-t-you-convinced-that-weakness-is-a-man-s-condition/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Every man's condition is a solution in hieroglyph to those inquiries he would put. He acts it as life before he apprehends it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-s-condition-is-a-solution-in-hieroglyph-to-those-inquiries/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“It is good for a man to keep himself in such condition that he can do ten miles on short notice. The deficiency in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-barron/it-is-good-for-a-man-to-keep-himself-in-such-condition-that-he-can-do/) [Alfred Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-barron/) > [The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-condition-of-man-is-a-condition-of-war-of-everyone-against/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“In this condition one enriches everything out of one's own abundance: what one sees, what one desires, one sees swollen, pressing, strong, over laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-this-condition-one-enriches-everything-out-of-one-s-own-abundance/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The irony of man's condition is that the deepest need is to be free of the anxiety of death and annihilation; but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/the-irony-of-man-s-condition-is-that-the-deepest-need-is-to-be-free/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Man's condition is never the same; he is humbled, then exalted; sometimes at peace, sometimes persecuted; enlightened today and plunged into darkness tomorrow. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/man-s-condition-is-never-the-same-he-is-humbled-then-exalted/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [The one real object of education is to have a man in the condition of continually asking questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bishop-creighton/the-one-real-object-of-education-is-to-have-a-man-in-the-condition-of/) [Bishop Creighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bishop-creighton/) > [Condition de l'homme: inconstance, ennui, inquie tude. Man's condition. Inconstancy, boredom, anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/condition-de-l-homme-inconstance-ennui-inquie-tude-man-s-condition/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [When we're fully engaged in the present moment, no matter what we're doing, the question of meaning never seems to arise. It's because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-re-fully-engaged-in-the-present-moment-no-matter-what-we-re/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [In the real world, those of us who are most productive, successful, and satisfied focus not on fixing feelings or manipulating thoughts, but on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/in-the-real-world-those-of-us-who-are-most-productive-successful-and/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Don't hate the arising of thoughts or stop the thoughts that do arise. Simply realize that our original mind, right from the start, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/don-t-hate-the-arising-of-thoughts-or-stop-the-thoughts-that-do-arise/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [When you’re working with Army and Marine Corps units, you immediately notice a difference. The Army is pretty tough, but their performance can depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/when-you-re-working-with-army-and-marine-corps-units-you-immediately/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [War is horrible no matter what. There's going to be atrocities, there's going to be horrible things that happen in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hoffman/war-is-horrible-no-matter-what-there-s-going-to-be-atrocities-there-s/) [Mike Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hoffman/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Arise quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The financial crisis we are facing today arises from the fact that there is almost no more social, cultural, natural, and spiritual capital left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-financial-crisis-we-are-facing-today-arises-from-the-fact-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Do not be satisfied with the speech of your lips and the thought in your heart, all the promises and good sayings in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/do-not-be-satisfied-with-the-speech-of-your-lips-and-the-thought-in/) [Menachem Mendel of Kotzk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/) > [Arise Evans had a fungous nose, and said, it was revealed to him, that the King's hand would cure him, and at the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/arise-evans-had-a-fungous-nose-and-said-it-was-revealed-to-him-that/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [In my model, important interference phenomena arise when individual strata come into contact. These chaotic fluctuations are, I suppose, what my music is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/in-my-model-important-interference-phenomena-arise-when-individual/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [An idea or institution may arise for one reason and be maintained for quite a different reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccabe/an-idea-or-institution-may-arise-for-one-reason-and-be-maintained-for/) [Joseph McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccabe/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-arise-full-of-eagerness-and-energy-knowing-well-what-achievement/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [When you train your thoughts to dissolve as they arise, they will cross your mind like a bird crosses the sky--without leaving a trace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julietta-suzuki/when-you-train-your-thoughts-to-dissolve-as-they-arise-they-will/) [Julietta Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julietta-suzuki/) > [Nothing, not even the best and noblest, can go on as it now is. Nothing, not even what is lowest and most bestial, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-not-even-the-best-and-noblest-can-go-on-as-it-now-is-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Browse all 1,703 Arise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man's condition is horrible because, no matter what form his happiness may take, it arises from some species of ignorance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-matter-what-form-his-happiness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-matter-what-form-his-happiness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/honor-de-balzac-197_arise_man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-m_1642373.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man's condition is horrible because, no matter what form his happiness may take, it arises from some species…” — Honore de Balzac", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man's condition is horrible because, no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-matter-what-form-his-happiness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/man-s-condition-is-horrible-because-no-matter-what-form-his-happiness/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```