--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings have an almost unlimited…" description: "\"Human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-delusion. We can justify any amount of sadness if it fits our own particular standard of realit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png" --- # Human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for… ![“Human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-delusion. We can justify any amount of sadness if it fits our own particular standard of reality.” quote by John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png) > “Human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-delusion. We can justify any amount of sadness if it fits our own particular standard of reality.” [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People can deceive themselves, rationalizing sadness to fit personal beliefs. **In simple terms:** Self‑delusion lets us accept any sadness. Key Takeaway Question your own narratives. Themes psychology self‑deception reality Mood introspective thought‑provoking Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal reflection - creative writing Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs might you be using to justify pain? - How can you confront uncomfortable realities? A Different Perspective Self‑delusion can hinder growth and truth‑seeking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Delusion Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion-justify-931807/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Justify Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify-sadness-931808/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-delusion/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Unlimited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlimited/) ## Related quotes > [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Writing is the perfect balance between self-confidence and self-doubt, with a bit of self-delusion thrown in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-kelman/writing-is-the-perfect-balance-between-self-confidence-and-self-doubt/) [Judith Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-kelman/) > [The great paradox of determinism and free will, which has held the attention of the wisest of philosophers and psychologists for generations, can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-great-paradox-of-determinism-and-free-will-which-has-held-the/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Love is the self-delusion we manufacture to justify the trouble we take to have sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-s-greenberg/love-is-the-self-delusion-we-manufacture-to-justify-the-trouble-we/) [Daniel S. Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-s-greenberg/) > [The human capacity for self-delusion is boundless, and the effects of belief are overpowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/the-human-capacity-for-self-delusion-is-boundless-and-the-effects-of/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [I seek the truth...it is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance that does harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-seek-the-truth-it-is-only-persistence-in-self-delusion-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The first-person viewpoint is more enjoyable to write, because it lets me meander more freely, and it can reveal more of the character's self-delusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/the-first-person-viewpoint-is-more-enjoyable-to-write-because-it-lets/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [Words bend our thinking to infinite paths of self-delusion, and the fact that we spend most of our mental lives in brain mansions built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/words-bend-our-thinking-to-infinite-paths-of-self-delusion-and-the/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [We cannot move casually into a better future. We cannot casually pursue the goal we have set for ourselves. A goal that is casually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/we-cannot-move-casually-into-a-better-future-we-cannot-casually/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The most foreign fighters in Iraq are wearing British and American uniforms. The level of self-delusion is bordering frankly on the racist. The vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/the-most-foreign-fighters-in-iraq-are-wearing-british-and-american/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [A direct statement about yourself is considered objective only if it is negative. If it's positive, it is considered subjective. And 'objective' means it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sher/a-direct-statement-about-yourself-is-considered-objective-only-if-it/) [Barbara Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sher/) > [People compose the schedules they do out of the priorities they have; and someone who says otherwise is deceiving himself about what he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/people-compose-the-schedules-they-do-out-of-the-priorities-they-have/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [No one can genuinely love the world, which is too large to love entire. To love all the world at once is pretense or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/no-one-can-genuinely-love-the-world-which-is-too-large-to-love-entire/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [I'd actually love to think that I could trust Kerry on national security. But the only way I could do that, at this point,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-reynolds/i-d-actually-love-to-think-that-i-could-trust-kerry-on-national/) [Glenn Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-reynolds/) > [“Of course, that rationalization didn't work at all. It would have helped if I'd had some Oreo cookie ice cream to eat at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/of-course-that-rationalization-didn-t-work-at-all-it-would-have/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) ## More by John Twelve Hawks > [Walking is easy ... but it requires faith to find the right path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/walking-is-easy-but-it-requires-faith-to-find-the-right-path/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [Human beings are tool-making animals. Since the prehistoric era, we have created and used a wide variety of objects. But now a significant change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/human-beings-are-tool-making-animals-since-the-prehistoric-era-we/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [Every new experience is unusual. The rest of life is just sleep and committee meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/every-new-experience-is-unusual-the-rest-of-life-is-just-sleep-and/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [You can't truly hear your own voice until the shouting around you disappears. New ideas and possibilities - our own ideas, our own possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/you-can-t-truly-hear-your-own-voice-until-the-shouting-around-you/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [True freedom is tolerant. It gives people the right to live and think in new ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/true-freedom-is-tolerant-it-gives-people-the-right-to-live-and-think/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [Without private thoughts and actions, we can never truly be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/without-private-thoughts-and-actions-we-can-never-truly-be-free/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [Life is dangerous. That's what makes it interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/life-is-dangerous-that-s-what-makes-it-interesting/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [“Many physicists these days sound like the Delphic oracle - with equations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/many-physicists-these-days-sound-like-the-delphic-oracle-with/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [Anyone who steps back for a minute and observes our modern digital world might conclude that we have destroyed our privacy in exchange for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/anyone-who-steps-back-for-a-minute-and-observes-our-modern-digital/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [I spent my time drinking and staring at a television in the airport bar. More death and destruction. Crime. Pollution. All the news stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/i-spent-my-time-drinking-and-staring-at-a-television-in-the-airport/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [If privacy had a gravestone it might read: 'Don't Worry. This Was for Your Own Good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/if-privacy-had-a-gravestone-it-might-read-don-t-worry-this-was-for/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [When people decide that a certain way of faith is destined and inevitable, hatred and intolerance follow. Instead of saying, 'The Light is within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/when-people-decide-that-a-certain-way-of-faith-is-destined-and/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [“You don´t need to watch everyone if everyone believes they're beeing watched. (...) Punishment isn't necessary, but the inevitability of punishment has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/you-don-t-need-to-watch-everyone-if-everyone-believes-they-re-beeing/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [“(...) I wanted to drink a decent glass of wine in the evening with good friends." "Sounds like a modest goal." "Yes, but even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/i-wanted-to-drink-a-decent-glass-of-wine-in-the-evening-with-good/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) > [Almost every important choice in our lives is really just an expression of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/almost-every-important-choice-in-our-lives-is-really-just-an/) [John Twelve Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) [Explore all 19 John Twelve Hawks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-was-only-operating-at-about-80-of-my-capacity/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [he cult of productivity has its place, but worshipping at its altar daily robs us of the very capacity for joy and wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/he-cult-of-productivity-has-its-place-but-worshipping-at-its-altar/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,320 Capacity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-delusion. We can justify any amount of sadness if it fits our own particular standard of reality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Twelve Hawks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-capacity-for-self-delusion-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capacity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-capacity-for-self-delusion-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/john-twelve-hawks-28198_capacity_human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-ca_868911.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-delusion. We can justify any amount of sadness if it…” — John Twelve Hawks", "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": "John Twelve Hawks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-twelve-hawks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Human beings have an almost unlimited...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-capacity-for-self-delusion-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-twelve-hawks/human-beings-have-an-almost-unlimited-capacity-for-self-delusion-we/#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 } } ] } ```