--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ordinary modes of human thinking are…" description: "\"“The ordinary modes of human thinking are magical, religious, social, and personal. We want our wishes to come true; we want the universe to care about..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/john-derbyshire-20276_nature-of-man_the-ordinary-modes-of-human-thinking-are_2290117.png" --- # The ordinary modes of human thinking are magical… ![“The ordinary modes of human thinking are magical, religious, social, and personal. We want our wishes to come true; we want the universe to care about us; we want the approval of those around us; we want to get even with that s.o.b. who insulted us at the last tribal council. For most people…” quote by John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/john-derbyshire-20276_nature-of-man_the-ordinary-modes-of-human-thinking-are_2290117.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/john-derbyshire-20276_nature-of-man_the-ordinary-modes-of-human-thinking-are_2290117.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/john-derbyshire-20276_nature-of-man_the-ordinary-modes-of-human-thinking-are_2290117.png) > ““The ordinary modes of human thinking are magical, religious, social, and personal. We want our wishes to come true; we want the universe to care about us; we want the approval of those around us; we want to get even with that s.o.b. who insulted us at the last tribal council. For most people, wanting to know the cold truth about the world is way, way down the list.”” [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People rely on comforting, personal narratives rather than objective truth because emotions and social needs dominate thinking. **In simple terms:** People prefer magical or personal explanations over cold facts. Key Takeaway Recognize bias and seek evidence‑based understanding. Themes bias beliefs truth psychology social influence Mood reflective critical analytical Type statement observation analysis When to use this quote - political discourse - personal decision making - media consumption - education - self‑reflection Key Concepts cognitive bias motivated reasoning social conformity Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs are held for comfort? - How can one prioritize truth over desire? A Different Perspective Emotional needs often outweigh rational analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-truth/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Romanticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romanticism/) ## Related quotes > [Self-sufficiency, independence, the capacity to stand apart, to differ, to resist, and to defy-all are modes of being human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/self-sufficiency-independence-the-capacity-to-stand-apart-to-differ/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“We should be cautiously open to the spiritual and non-rational, and skeptical of the more invisible magical thinking—what we might call “magical reason”—pervading secular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-watson/we-should-be-cautiously-open-to-the-spiritual-and-non-rational-and/) David Watson > [This just isn't for me. 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