--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the consciousness of men that…" description: "\"It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.\" — Karl Marx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/karl-marx-399_consciousness_it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that_19453.jpg" --- # It is not the consciousness of men that determines their… ![“It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.” quote by Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/karl-marx-399_consciousness_it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that_19453.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/karl-marx-399_consciousness_it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that_19453.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/051/karl-marx-399_consciousness_it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that_19453.jpg) > “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.” [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social conditions shape how people think, not the other way around. **In simple terms:** Environment defines mindset. Key Takeaway Structure influences consciousness. Themes social determinism materialism class struggle ideology historical materialism philosophy of mind Mood critical analytical reflective Type philosophical political sociological When to use this quote - education policy - workplace culture - media narratives - community development - political movements Key Concepts social relations economic base cultural superstructure human agency Practical Applications - sociological analysis - policy design Questions to Reflect On - How do current social institutions affect individual beliefs? - Can individuals change their consciousness without altering their material conditions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Consciousness Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-men-392481/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Determines Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determines-consciousness-392482/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Determines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-determines-392483/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Determines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-determines-392484/) ## Related quotes > [“In the social production which men carry on they enter into definite relations that are indispensable and independent of their will; these relations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/in-the-social-production-which-men-carry-on-they-enter-into-definite/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [No school of philosophy has ever solved this question of whether being determines consciousness or the other way around. It may be a false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/no-school-of-philosophy-has-ever-solved-this-question-of-whether/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It is not the consciousness of man that determines his existence—rather, it is his social existence that determines his consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-r-popper/it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-man-that-determines-his-existence/) [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) > [“A better life can only come when the consciousness of men is altered for the better; and therefore, those who wish to improve life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/a-better-life-can-only-come-when-the-consciousness-of-men-is-altered/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Of course. A new consciousness - I that that is the word,' said the old man after he had thought a moment. 'That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/of-course-a-new-consciousness-i-that-that-is-the-word-said-the-old/) [Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/) > [The method of production of the material things of life generally determines the social, political and spiritual currents of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-method-of-production-of-the-material-things-of-life-generally/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/necessity-is-blind-until-it-becomes-conscious-freedom-is-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Choices determine character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/choices-determine-character/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Thought determines action. Do not let your whole life be a reaction to the things that happen around you each day. Let your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/thought-determines-action-do-not-let-your-whole-life-be-a-reaction-to/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More by Karl Marx > [“Economists have a singular method of procedure. There are only two kinds of institutions for them, artificial and natural. The institutions of feudalism are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/economists-have-a-singular-method-of-procedure-there-are-only-two/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As the variable capital always stays in the hands of the capitalist in some form or other, it cannot be claimed in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-the-variable-capital-always-stays-in-the-hands-of-the-capitalist/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Money degrades all the gods of man and converts them into commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/money-degrades-all-the-gods-of-man-and-converts-them-into-commodities/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [As a beast of toil an ox is fixed capital. If he is eaten, he no longer functions as an instrument of labour, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-a-beast-of-toil-an-ox-is-fixed-capital-if-he-is-eaten-he-no-longer/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Philosophy is to the real world as masturbation is to sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/philosophy-is-to-the-real-world-as-masturbation-is-to-sex/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/go-on-get-out-last-words-are-for-fools-who-haven-t-said-enough/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“If you love without evoking love in return - if through the vital expression of yourself as a loving person you fail to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/if-you-love-without-evoking-love-in-return-if-through-the-vital/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Do not be deluded by the abstract word Freedom. Whose freedom? Not the freedom of one individual in relation to another, but freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/do-not-be-deluded-by-the-abstract-word-freedom-whose-freedom-not-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The burgeoisie, by the rapid improvement of all instruments of production, by the immensely facilitated means of communication, draws all nations into civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-burgeoisie-by-the-rapid-improvement-of-all-instruments-of/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Ideas do not exist separately from language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/ideas-do-not-exist-separately-from-language/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [So in Jewry we recognise a contemporary universal anti-social phenomenon, which has reached its present pitch through a process of, historical development in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/so-in-jewry-we-recognise-a-contemporary-universal-anti-social/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The class struggle necessarily leads to the dictatorship of the proletariat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-class-struggle-necessarily-leads-to-the-dictatorship-of-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [If this labourer were in possession of his own means of production, and was satisfied to live as a labourer, he need not work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/if-this-labourer-were-in-possession-of-his-own-means-of-production/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [These numerous points at which money is withdrawn from circulation and accumulated in numerous individual hoards or potential money-capitals appears as so many obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/these-numerous-points-at-which-money-is-withdrawn-from-circulation/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) [Explore all 571 Karl Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More Consciousness quotes > [“You're never alone if you're with your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-armond-powell/you-re-never-alone-if-you-re-with-your-soul/) [Gerard Armond Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-armond-powell/) > [“I now argue that entry into Upper Palaeolithic caves was probably seen as virtually indistinguishable from entry into the mental vortex that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-david-lewis-williams/i-now-argue-that-entry-into-upper-palaeolithic-caves-was-probably/) [James David Lewis-Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-david-lewis-williams/) > [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [“People and situations always show us what we need to see and learn about ourselves, and when we take responsibility for our own feelings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-mada-dalian/people-and-situations-always-show-us-what-we-need-to-see-and-learn/) [Eliza Mada Dalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-mada-dalian/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. 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