--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Physical nature lies at our feet shackled…" description: "\"Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred chains. What of the control of human nature? Do not point to the triumphs of psychiatry, socia..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/johan-huizinga-5595_chains_physical-nature-lies-at-our-feet-shackle_192988.jpg" --- # Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred… ![“Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred chains. What of the control of human nature? Do not point to the triumphs of psychiatry, social services or the war against crime. Domination of human nature can only mean the domination of every man by himself.” quote by Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/johan-huizinga-5595_chains_physical-nature-lies-at-our-feet-shackle_192988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/johan-huizinga-5595_chains_physical-nature-lies-at-our-feet-shackle_192988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/johan-huizinga-5595_chains_physical-nature-lies-at-our-feet-shackle_192988.jpg) > “Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred chains. What of the control of human nature? Do not point to the triumphs of psychiatry, social services or the war against crime. Domination of human nature can only mean the domination of every man by himself.” [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) ## 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 constrained by self‑imposed limits; true freedom requires individuals to master themselves rather than external controls. **In simple terms:** We are chained by our own habits; self‑mastery frees us. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑discipline and inner freedom. Themes self‑control freedom human nature Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - education - social reform Key Concepts psychology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals balance self‑mastery with societal change? - What habits keep you most chained? A Different Perspective Self‑control alone may not overcome systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Domination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domination/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Psychiatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychiatry/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-service/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The domination of nature leads to the domination of human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/the-domination-of-nature-leads-to-the-domination-of-human-nature/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [When properly applied, the kamae reflects the ninja's heart. This means that our physical nature conforms to our intentions, and there is no division…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-hatsumi/when-properly-applied-the-kamae-reflects-the-ninja-s-heart-this-means/) [Masaaki Hatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-hatsumi/) > [In the new science of the twenty-first century, not physical force but spiritual force will lead the way. Mental and spiritual gifts will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gould-davis/in-the-new-science-of-the-twenty-first-century-not-physical-force-but/) [Elizabeth Gould Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gould-davis/) > [The physical nature of the Globe is going to break down a lot of barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wanamaker/the-physical-nature-of-the-globe-is-going-to-break-down-a-lot-of/) [Sam Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wanamaker/) > [“Perhaps we aren’t fully developed. The physical development of human beings necessarily had to precede the psychological. Perhaps the physical nature of the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/perhaps-we-aren-t-fully-developed-the-physical-development-of-human/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > ['Environment' is not an abstract concern, or simply a matter of aesthetics, or of personal taste - although it can and should involve these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/environment-is-not-an-abstract-concern-or-simply-a-matter-of/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Physical weather certainly is beyond our control. ... But human weather - the psychological climate of the world - is not beyond our control.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/physical-weather-certainly-is-beyond-our-control-but-human-weather/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [I've had only one idea in my life - a true idee fixe. To put it as bluntly as possible - the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-ve-had-only-one-idea-in-my-life-a-true-idee-fixe-to-put-it-as/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [“Data about human desires and experiences can be gathered and made into algorithms that can lead to the ability to control human decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/readtrepreneur-publishing/data-about-human-desires-and-experiences-can-be-gathered-and-made/) Readtrepreneur Publishing > [Although technology is proceeding at a dizzying pace, I believe that the human mind will always have control of itself. And since the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/although-technology-is-proceeding-at-a-dizzying-pace-i-believe-that/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [To preserve the human race, it is now necessary to reorganize society. To this end, an Authority must be created with the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/to-preserve-the-human-race-it-is-now-necessary-to-reorganize-society/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The control of the production of wealth is the control of human life itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-control-of-the-production-of-wealth-is-the-control-of-human-life/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [You cannot control another human being, and you just have to learn to go with the flow and laugh at yourself, in whatever capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/you-cannot-control-another-human-being-and-you-just-have-to-learn-to/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [“Feeling in control makes most people feel secure and safe. It doesn’t matter how much actual control we have. Every human is technically a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-burnett/feeling-in-control-makes-most-people-feel-secure-and-safe-it-doesn-t/) [Dean Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-burnett/) > [We are the WTF generation: Wikipedia, Twitter and Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-wtf-generation-wikipedia-twitter-and-facebook/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Johan Huizinga > [Do you know anything that in all its innocence is more humiliating than the funny pages of a Sunday newspaper in America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/do-you-know-anything-that-in-all-its-innocence-is-more-humiliating/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [Play: It is an an activity which proceeds within certain limits of time and space, in a visible order, according to rules freely accepted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/play-it-is-an-an-activity-which-proceeds-within-certain-limits-of/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [You can deny, if you like, nearly all abstractions: justice, beauty, truth, goodness, mind, God. You can deny seriousness, but not play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/you-can-deny-if-you-like-nearly-all-abstractions-justice-beauty-truth/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The awareness of the all-surpassing importance of social groups is now general property in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-awareness-of-the-all-surpassing-importance-of-social-groups-is/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [If we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/if-we-are-to-preserve-culture-we-must-continue-to-create-it/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [We have to transpose ourselves into this impressionability of mind, into this sensitivity to tears and spiritual repentance, intothis susceptibility, before we can judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/we-have-to-transpose-ourselves-into-this-impressionability-of-mind/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [If the Americans, in addition to the eagle and the Stars and Stripes and the more unofficial symbols of bison, moose and Indian, should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/if-the-americans-in-addition-to-the-eagle-and-the-stars-and-stripes/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The content of the ideal is a desire to return to the perfection of an imaginary past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-content-of-the-ideal-is-a-desire-to-return-to-the-perfection-of/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [Play is older than culture, for culture, however inadequately defined, always presupposes human society, and animals have not waited for man to teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/play-is-older-than-culture-for-culture-however-inadequately-defined/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [If, then, this civilization is to be saved, if it is not to be submerged by centuries of barbarism, but to secure the treasures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/if-then-this-civilization-is-to-be-saved-if-it-is-not-to-be-submerged/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [“Nyugalom az egyén számára, könyvektől körülvéve, ez a legvágyottabb állapot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/nyugalom-az-egy-n-sz-m-ra-k-nyvekt-l-k-r-lv-ve-ez-a-legv-gyottabb/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [“A bölcsesség úgy áramlik a balgasághoz, mint az ész az érzelmekhez. S a világban sokkal több az érzelem, mint az ész. Ami az életet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/a-b-lcsess-g-gy-ramlik-a-balgas-ghoz-mint-az-sz-az-rzelmekhez-s-a-vil/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [We can't put up a protectionist dam on our own against the neo-liberal world market either. However, we can try, together with our European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/we-can-t-put-up-a-protectionist-dam-on-our-own-against-the-neo/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The spirit of playful competition is, as a social impulse, older than culture itself and pervades all life like a veritable ferment. Ritual grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-spirit-of-playful-competition-is-as-a-social-impulse-older-than/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The new knowledge has not yet settled in culture. It has not yet been integrated in a new cosmic conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-new-knowledge-has-not-yet-settled-in-culture-it-has-not-yet-been/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) [Explore all 92 Johan Huizinga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) ## More Chains quotes > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Chains of conformity click in tiresomely monotonous unison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/the-chains-of-conformity-click-in-tiresomely-monotonous-unison/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [We don't have a farm-to-table food safety system. I keep saying this. It came as a big surprise to the FDA that tomatoes were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/we-don-t-have-a-farm-to-table-food-safety-system-i-keep-saying-this/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/how-can-i-set-free-anyone-who-doesn-t-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-alone/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I'm bigger than you! I'm higher on the food chain - get in my belly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/i-m-bigger-than-you-i-m-higher-on-the-food-chain-get-in-my-belly/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The chains will fall off freely, no more worries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dl-watson/the-chains-will-fall-off-freely-no-more-worries/) DL WATSON > [I am ever mindful of the legacy of my grandfather, the founder of this Kingdom, who had said to me that he perceived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/i-am-ever-mindful-of-the-legacy-of-my-grandfather-the-founder-of-this/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [To one who is accustomed to thinking a lot, every new thought that he hears or reads about immediately appears as a link in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-one-who-is-accustomed-to-thinking-a-lot-every-new-thought-that-he/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [To sigh, yet feel no pain; To weep, yet scarce know why; To sport an hour with Beauty's chain, Then throw it idly by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/to-sigh-yet-feel-no-pain-to-weep-yet-scarce-know-why-to-sport-an-hour/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Browse all 1,639 Chains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred chains. What of the control of human nature? Do not point to the triumphs of psychiatry, social services or the war against crime. 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