--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is man's intrinsic and irreducible…" description: "\"It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility to humanize himself, to exercise his entire range of rational and moral resources to raise hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg" --- # It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility… ![“It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility to humanize himself, to exercise his entire range of rational and moral resources to raise his mode of being and seeing and acting above not just that of animals, but also above that of the majority of subhuman (never to be self-realized)…” quote by Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg) > “It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility to humanize himself, to exercise his entire range of rational and moral resources to raise his mode of being and seeing and acting above not just that of animals, but also above that of the majority of subhuman (never to be self-realized) humans who will never draw themselves into a self-punishing position of focal self-diagnosis and self-accountability.” [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings must consciously elevate themselves beyond animal instincts and the lowly masses by using full rational and moral capacities. **In simple terms:** Raise yourself above base instincts and low standards. Key Takeaway Use reason and morality to improve yourself. Themes self‑improvement responsibility humanism Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - leadership training - ethical decision making Key Concepts rationality morality self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply rational moral resources daily? - What obstacles prevent you from self‑accountability? A Different Perspective Limited by social structures that may suppress individual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-realization/) [Self responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [The value of a man is in his intrinsic qualities: in that of which power cannot strip him and which adverse fortune cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-value-of-a-man-is-in-his-intrinsic-qualities-in-that-of-which/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [I would say that an understanding of man's intrinsic needs, and of the necessity to search for a climate in which those needs could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/i-would-say-that-an-understanding-of-man-s-intrinsic-needs-and-of-the/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [“Rational moral choices are based on the value of life, not a consensus. A consensus can’t make the sun rise at midnight, nor can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/rational-moral-choices-are-based-on-the-value-of-life-not-a-consensus/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Being rational is a moral Imperative. You should never be stupider than you need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/being-rational-is-a-moral-imperative-you-should-never-be-stupider/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Being able and willing to complain is what makes us rational and moral animals, capable of seeing and articulating the difference between how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/being-able-and-willing-to-complain-is-what-makes-us-rational-and/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“it is impossible to begin investigation without assumptions, for they all are founded on ideas and canons which have their basis in the rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/it-is-impossible-to-begin-investigation-without-assumptions-for-they/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [The choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-choices-we-make-are-ultimately-our-responsibility/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/learn-to-relax-your-body-is-precious-as-it-houses-your-mind-and/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Anarchism, to me, means not only the denial of authority, not only a new economy, but a revision of the principles of morality. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/anarchism-to-me-means-not-only-the-denial-of-authority-not-only-a-new/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [“Only one who takes over his own life history can see in it the realization of his self. Responsibility to take over one's own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-habermas/only-one-who-takes-over-his-own-life-history-can-see-in-it-the/) [Jürgen Habermas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-habermas/) > [“If you are financially broke or feel stuck, there's a part of you, something about you, or something in you that has worked so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana/if-you-are-financially-broke-or-feel-stuck-there-s-a-part-of-you/) [Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana/) > [The right way is the greatest gratifier of human wishes ever come upon - when allowed to operate. It is as morally sound as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-right-way-is-the-greatest-gratifier-of-human-wishes-ever-come/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“I'm putting back into the self the responsibility for the collective life. If each one of us took very seriously the fact that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-m-putting-back-into-the-self-the-responsibility-for-the-collective/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [If you take care of your immediate surroundings, the universe will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-you-take-care-of-your-immediate-surroundings-the-universe-will/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I was much happier when I had less responsibility... when my only responsibility was to my work and to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-was-much-happier-when-i-had-less-responsibility-when-my-only/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) ## More by Kenny Smith > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete-they-mean-merely-they-are/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [If you look at the NBA, it's the richest and wealthiest group of African-American men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/if-you-look-at-the-nba-it-s-the-richest-and-wealthiest-group-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There are a lot more famous fathers out there than me with daughters who wouldn't mind singing careers... but the talent and the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-are-a-lot-more-famous-fathers-out-there-than-me-with-daughters/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Games like 'Call of Duty' and 'NBA Baller Beats' have so much to them. I was more of the 'Pac-Man' generation where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/games-like-call-of-duty-and-nba-baller-beats-have-so-much-to-them-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The Rockets have a philosophy of what they think their coach should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-rockets-have-a-philosophy-of-what-they-think-their-coach-should-be/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I've played more park games than NBA games, and I had a 10-year NBA career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-ve-played-more-park-games-than-nba-games-and-i-had-a-10-year-nba/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I'm always the neutral guy, man. I'm able to bring people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-m-always-the-neutral-guy-man-i-m-able-to-bring-people-together/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [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/) > [There's hasn't been a day in my life since I was 9 years old that I haven't touched a basketball or done something connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-s-hasn-t-been-a-day-in-my-life-since-i-was-9-years-old-that-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [You can have your own thought process about things, but you still need to include and co-exist with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/you-can-have-your-own-thought-process-about-things-but-you-still-need/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [NCAA is looking at how to do a better job enforcing their rules instead of looking at why the predatorial environment is created. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/ncaa-is-looking-at-how-to-do-a-better-job-enforcing-their-rules/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) [Explore all 168 Kenny Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## More Accountability quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) Philip Alston > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility to humanize himself, to exercise his entire range of rational and moral resources to raise his mode of being and seeing and acting above not just that of animals, but also above that of the majority of subhuman (never to be self-realized) humans who will never draw themselves into a self-punishing position of focal self-diagnosis and self-accountability.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-self-responsibility-to-humanize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-self-responsibility-to-humanize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/kenny-smith-2406_accountability_it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-se_1777910.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is man's intrinsic and irreducible self-responsibility to humanize himself, to exercise his entire range…” — Kenny Smith", "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": "Kenny Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is man's intrinsic and irreducible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-self-responsibility-to-humanize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/it-is-man-s-intrinsic-and-irreducible-self-responsibility-to-humanize/#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 } } ] } ```