--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From the crooked timber of humanity, a…" description: "\"“From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board cannot be hewn.”\" — Immanuel Kant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg" --- # From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board… ![“From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board cannot be hewn.” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg) > ““From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board cannot be hewn.”” [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is inherently flawed, making perfect moral or logical outcomes impossible. **In simple terms:** Human imperfection prevents perfect outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of perfection. Themes human nature imperfection philosophy Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - lawmaking - education - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethics metaphysics critical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ideal standards with real‑world limitations? - Can imperfection be a source of growth? A Different Perspective Idealism may ignore practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Board Hewn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/board-hewn-4375837/) [Crooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crooked/) [Crooked Timber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crooked-timber-1721466/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-straight-1721467/) [Moralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralism/) [Straight Board](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-board-4375838/) ## Related quotes > [Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/out-of-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-no-straight-thing-was-ever-made/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“From such crooked timber as humanity is made of, no straight thing was ever constructed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-such-crooked-timber-as-humanity-is-made-of-no-straight-thing-was/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Aus so krummen Holze, als woraus der Mensch gemacht ist, kann nichts ganz Gerades gezimmert werden. Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/aus-so-krummen-holze-als-woraus-der-mensch-gemacht-ist-kann-nichts/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“From the crooked timber of humanity, never was a straight thing made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-never-was-a-straight-thing-made/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was even made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kant/out-of-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-no-straight-thing-was-even-made/) [kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kant/) > [Out of the crooked timber of humanity, nothing completely straight was ever made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/out-of-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-nothing-completely-straight-was/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-such-crooked-wood-as-that-which-man-is-made-of-nothing-straight/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Our Western society is so deeply divided between these two approaches (moralism, self-discovery) that hardly anyone can conceive of any other way to live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/our-western-society-is-so-deeply-divided-between-these-two-approaches/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [In the unbending of the arm to do the deed there is experience worth all the maxims in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-the-unbending-of-the-arm-to-do-the-deed-there-is-experience-worth/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Innocence could be lost more than once after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-kitt/innocence-could-be-lost-more-than-once-after-all/) [Selena Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-kitt/) > [“Postmodern people have been rejecting Christianity for years, thinking that it was indistinguishable from moralism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/postmodern-people-have-been-rejecting-christianity-for-years-thinking/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Indeed, compulsive and rigid moralism arises in given persons precisely as the result of a lack of sense of being. Rigid moralism is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/indeed-compulsive-and-rigid-moralism-arises-in-given-persons/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“We make a fatal mistake when we try to force Scripture to offer redemption to those who want to go to heaven but who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-jacobsen/we-make-a-fatal-mistake-when-we-try-to-force-scripture-to-offer/) [Wayne Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-jacobsen/) > [I very much dislike the intolerance and moralism of many Christians, and feel more sympathy with Honest Doubters than with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-n-wilson/i-very-much-dislike-the-intolerance-and-moralism-of-many-christians/) [A. N. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-n-wilson/) > [The ironic thing about legalism is that it not only doesn't make people work harder, it makes them give up. Moralism doesn't produce morality;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-ironic-thing-about-legalism-is-that-it-not-only-doesn-t-make/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More by Immanuel Kant > [Even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members (e.g., if a people inhabiting an island decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/even-if-a-civil-society-were-to-be-dissolved-by-the-consent-of-all/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [How then is perfection to be sought? Wherein lies our hope? In education, and in nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/how-then-is-perfection-to-be-sought-wherein-lies-our-hope-in/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Heaven has given human beings three things to balance the odds of life: hope, sleep, and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/heaven-has-given-human-beings-three-things-to-balance-the-odds-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Beauty presents an indeterminate concept of Understanding, the sublime an indeterminate concept of Reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/beauty-presents-an-indeterminate-concept-of-understanding-the-sublime/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Freedom is that faculty that enlarges the usefulness of all other faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/freedom-is-that-faculty-that-enlarges-the-usefulness-of-all-other/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Philosophical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from concepts ; mathematical knowledge is the knowledge gained by reason from the construction of concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/philosophical-knowledge-is-the-knowledge-gained-by-reason-from/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to any other purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/a-categorical-imperative-would-be-one-which-represented-an-action-as/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [When I could have used a wife, I could not support one; and when I could support one, I no longer needed any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/when-i-could-have-used-a-wife-i-could-not-support-one-and-when-i/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Enlightenment is the liberation of man from his self-caused state of minority... Supere aude! Dare to use your own understanding!is thus the motto of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/enlightenment-is-the-liberation-of-man-from-his-self-caused-state-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [The ideal of the supreme being is nothing but a regulative principle of reason which directs us to look upon all connection in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-ideal-of-the-supreme-being-is-nothing-but-a-regulative-principle/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Jeg skal alltid handle slik at den regelen jeg handler etter kunne gjelde som allmenn lov.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/jeg-skal-alltid-handle-slik-at-den-regelen-jeg-handler-etter-kunne/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Deaths, births, and marriages, considering how much they are separately dependent on the freedom of the human will, should seem to be subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/deaths-births-and-marriages-considering-how-much-they-are-separately/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [It is precisely in knowing its limits that philosophy consists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/it-is-precisely-in-knowing-its-limits-that-philosophy-consists/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [A society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/a-society-that-is-not-willing-to-demand-a-life-of-somebody-who-has/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [. . . as to moral feeling, this supposed special sense, the appeal to it is indeed superficial when those who cannot think believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/as-to-moral-feeling-this-supposed-special-sense-the-appeal-to-it-is/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Explore all 476 Immanuel Kant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## More Crooked quotes > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. Her flashing, dark eyes were friendly, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-sydney-she-said-giving-me-a-small-crooked-smile-as-she-entered/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [When I meet a new person, something has to be a little off for me to consider them beautiful. It could be crooked teeth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/when-i-meet-a-new-person-something-has-to-be-a-little-off-for-me-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I support all people on earth who have bodies like and unlike my body, skins and moles and old scars, secret and public hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-support-all-people-on-earth-who-have-bodies-like-and-unlike-my-body/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“He is crooked enough to hide behind a spiral staircase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey-margaret-ball/he-is-crooked-enough-to-hide-behind-a-spiral-staircase/) [Anne McCaffrey & Margaret Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey-margaret-ball/) > [I'm talkin' about a good girl gone bad crooked world, wrong path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-talkin-about-a-good-girl-gone-bad-crooked-world-wrong-path/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to look at myself in the mirror, which is why my eye makeup is always crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-guinness/i-don-t-like-to-look-at-myself-in-the-mirror-which-is-why-my-eye/) [Daphne Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-guinness/) > [The desires of the heart...are as crooked as a corkscrew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/the-desires-of-the-heart-are-as-crooked-as-a-corkscrew/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [ “CLOV \[sadly\] No one that ever lived ever thought so crooked as we.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/clov-sadly-no-one-that-ever-lived-ever-thought-so-crooked-as-we/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Washington has a mysterious power to turn perfectly reasonable, wholesome, well-meaning human beings into equivocating crooked gasbags.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/washington-has-a-mysterious-power-to-turn-perfectly-reasonable/) [David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/) > [John Kerry described his Republican critics as 'the most crooked, lying group I've ever seen.' Now, that's saying something, because Kerry's both a lawyer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-described-his-republican-critics-as-the-most-crooked-lying/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The privilege of ruling would be in the hands of the skilled and the learned, with a wide scope left for profitable crooked deals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/the-privilege-of-ruling-would-be-in-the-hands-of-the-skilled-and-the/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [“Between the whiskers scraggling down his neck and the now-crooked glasses, he could have been the Black Allen Ginsberg.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/between-the-whiskers-scraggling-down-his-neck-and-the-now-crooked/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) [Browse all 376 Crooked quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crooked/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board cannot be hewn.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Immanuel Kant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-straight-board-cannot-be-hewn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crooked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-straight-board-cannot-be-hewn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/immanuel-kant-532_humanity_from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-st_2128402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“From the crooked timber of humanity, a straight board cannot be hewn.” — Immanuel Kant", "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": "Immanuel Kant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“From the crooked timber of humanity,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-straight-board-cannot-be-hewn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/from-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-a-straight-board-cannot-be-hewn/#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 } } ] } ```