--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive…" description: "\"Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play but failed because these wishes are too primitive, too infantile, too inconsistent with thems..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/john-desmond-bernal-14871_giving_naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive_87092.png" --- # Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play… ![“Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play but failed because these wishes are too primitive, too infantile, too inconsistent with themselves to be satisfied even by the greatest license.” quote by John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/john-desmond-bernal-14871_giving_naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive_87092.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/john-desmond-bernal-14871_giving_naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive_87092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/john-desmond-bernal-14871_giving_naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive_87092.png) > “Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play but failed because these wishes are too primitive, too infantile, too inconsistent with themselves to be satisfied even by the greatest license.” [John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-desmond-bernal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Naturalist attempts to let primitive desires run free fail because those desires are immature and internally contradictory, defying even unrestricted freedom. **In simple terms:** Primitive wishes are self‑defeating Key Takeaway Unrefined desires resist full expression Themes philosophy of art naturalism human desire psychology contradiction Mood critical thought‑provoking Type observation theoretical claim When to use this quote - art criticism - philosophical essays - psychological studies Key Concepts primitive wishes naturalism inconsistency license Practical Applications - critical analysis - theoretical writing Questions to Reflect On - Why do innate impulses resist unbounded expression? - Can true artistic freedom accommodate primitive drives? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Naturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalism/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just a very primitive, infantile folk singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/i-m-just-a-very-primitive-infantile-folk-singer/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [“All of us have failed. One wishes to be punished. One is willing to assume all kinds of penance, but do you know, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/all-of-us-have-failed-one-wishes-to-be-punished-one-is-willing-to/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [“She has failed. She wishes she didn't mind. Something, she thinks, is wrong with her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/she-has-failed-she-wishes-she-didn-t-mind-something-she-thinks-is/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Indeed, the great Leonardo (da Vinci) remained like a child for the whole of his life in more than one way. It is said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/indeed-the-great-leonardo-da-vinci-remained-like-a-child-for-the/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Training is a good dog, a constant companion and an utterly loyal and devoted friend, and everyone should have one. Education is a nagging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mitchell/training-is-a-good-dog-a-constant-companion-and-an-utterly-loyal-and/) [Richard Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mitchell/) > [I have a fairly strict definition of early infantile autism. 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