--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human…" description: "\"“It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so much energy and enthusiasm from hate. If you want to feel ten feet tall and as though you could..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/kurt-vonnegut-41_energy-and-enthusias_it-is-a-tragedy-perhaps-that-human-being_2058684.jpg" --- # It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so… ![“It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so much energy and enthusiasm from hate. If you want to feel ten feet tall and as though you could run a hundred miles without stopping, hate beats pure cocaine any day. Hitler resurrected a beaten, bankrupt, half-starved nation with hatred and…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/kurt-vonnegut-41_energy-and-enthusias_it-is-a-tragedy-perhaps-that-human-being_2058684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/kurt-vonnegut-41_energy-and-enthusias_it-is-a-tragedy-perhaps-that-human-being_2058684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/kurt-vonnegut-41_energy-and-enthusias_it-is-a-tragedy-perhaps-that-human-being_2058684.jpg) > ““It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so much energy and enthusiasm from hate. If you want to feel ten feet tall and as though you could run a hundred miles without stopping, hate beats pure cocaine any day. Hitler resurrected a beaten, bankrupt, half-starved nation with hatred and nothing more. Imagine that.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hate can be a potent motivator, providing energy and confidence, but it is a destructive force that can drive societies toward ruin. **In simple terms:** Hate fuels energy but is destructive. Key Takeaway Channel energy into positive purpose. Themes psychology politics ethics Mood cautionary analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - personal ambition - mental health management Key Concepts motivational power danger of hatred social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform hateful energy into constructive action? - What are healthier sources of confidence? A Different Perspective Relying on hate can lead to moral decay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy and enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-and-enthusiasm/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-want/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Hatred Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-imagine-3916288/) [Nation Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-hatred-3916287/) [Stopping Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopping-hate-217819/) ## Related quotes > [“One day it may feel as if energy and enthusiasm are quenched, feelings dried up and emotions scorched, love and affection tangled in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/one-day-it-may-feel-as-if-energy-and-enthusiasm-are-quenched-feelings/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Roughly speaking, any man with energy and enthusiasm ought to be able to bring at least a dozen others round to his opinion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/roughly-speaking-any-man-with-energy-and-enthusiasm-ought-to-be-able/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [I fairly sizzle with zeal, energy, and enthusiasm; eager to do that which ought to be done by me today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fillmore/i-fairly-sizzle-with-zeal-energy-and-enthusiasm-eager-to-do-that/) [Charles Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fillmore/) > [I set very high standards for myself and worked every game with the same energy and enthusiasm as if it were the seventh game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-evans/i-set-very-high-standards-for-myself-and-worked-every-game-with-the/) [Jim Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-evans/) > [Often parents have equity or available funds in the bank, while sons and daughters have the energy and enthusiasm to build their own property.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/often-parents-have-equity-or-available-funds-in-the-bank-while-sons/) [George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/) > [The people who wake up and jump out of bed with energy and enthusiasm are the people who will be smiling all day, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/the-people-who-wake-up-and-jump-out-of-bed-with-energy-and-enthusiasm/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [“When one was full of energy and enthusiasm the world was an apple, the future was way beyond the horizon and only the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tikari/when-one-was-full-of-energy-and-enthusiasm-the-world-was-an-apple-the/) [Jeff Tikari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tikari/) > [“New Year is a spring time! Open up like a flower! Let the world see your energy! And when the world see your energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/new-year-is-a-spring-time-open-up-like-a-flower-let-the-world-see/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [A tell-all book by David Axelrod, one of President Obama's former strategists, reveals that Obama chose Joe Biden as his VP because of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-tell-all-book-by-david-axelrod-one-of-president-obama-s-former/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [“ 7. Energy. Your degree of personal energy and enthusiasm has a great deal to do with whether or not someone will want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/7-energy-your-degree-of-personal-energy-and-enthusiasm-has-a-great/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [We have to straighten out our country; we have to make our country great again, and we need energy and enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-to-straighten-out-our-country-we-have-to-make-our-country/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Leaders must exemplify integrity and earn the trust of their teams through their everyday actions. When you do this, you set high standards for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marillyn-hewson/leaders-must-exemplify-integrity-and-earn-the-trust-of-their-teams/) [Marillyn Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marillyn-hewson/) > [“Death is my art form--when I fight, I'm a ballerina. Graceful. Chi lacks my grace, but makes up for it in energy and enthusiasm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-crewe/death-is-my-art-form-when-i-fight-i-m-a-ballerina-graceful-chi-lacks/) [Eliza Crewe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-crewe/) > [I knew Hillary Clinton from undergraduate days and was enormously impressed with her. She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I think that the thing that holds so many of us back is our fear that we might fail, and I think we lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/i-think-that-the-thing-that-holds-so-many-of-us-back-is-our-fear-that/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Energy and enthusiasm quotes > [“One day it may feel as if energy and enthusiasm are quenched, feelings dried up and emotions scorched, love and affection tangled in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/one-day-it-may-feel-as-if-energy-and-enthusiasm-are-quenched-feelings/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [I knew Hillary Clinton from undergraduate days and was enormously impressed with her. She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [“Death is my art form--when I fight, I'm a ballerina. Graceful. Chi lacks my grace, but makes up for it in energy and enthusiasm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-crewe/death-is-my-art-form-when-i-fight-i-m-a-ballerina-graceful-chi-lacks/) [Eliza Crewe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-crewe/) > [Leaders must exemplify integrity and earn the trust of their teams through their everyday actions. When you do this, you set high standards for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marillyn-hewson/leaders-must-exemplify-integrity-and-earn-the-trust-of-their-teams/) [Marillyn Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marillyn-hewson/) > [We have to straighten out our country; we have to make our country great again, and we need energy and enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-to-straighten-out-our-country-we-have-to-make-our-country/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“ 7. Energy. Your degree of personal energy and enthusiasm has a great deal to do with whether or not someone will want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/7-energy-your-degree-of-personal-energy-and-enthusiasm-has-a-great/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [A tell-all book by David Axelrod, one of President Obama's former strategists, reveals that Obama chose Joe Biden as his VP because of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-tell-all-book-by-david-axelrod-one-of-president-obama-s-former/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [“New Year is a spring time! Open up like a flower! Let the world see your energy! And when the world see your energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/new-year-is-a-spring-time-open-up-like-a-flower-let-the-world-see/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“When one was full of energy and enthusiasm the world was an apple, the future was way beyond the horizon and only the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tikari/when-one-was-full-of-energy-and-enthusiasm-the-world-was-an-apple-the/) [Jeff Tikari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tikari/) > [The people who wake up and jump out of bed with energy and enthusiasm are the people who will be smiling all day, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/the-people-who-wake-up-and-jump-out-of-bed-with-energy-and-enthusiasm/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [Often parents have equity or available funds in the bank, while sons and daughters have the energy and enthusiasm to build their own property.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/often-parents-have-equity-or-available-funds-in-the-bank-while-sons/) [George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/) > [I set very high standards for myself and worked every game with the same energy and enthusiasm as if it were the seventh game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-evans/i-set-very-high-standards-for-myself-and-worked-every-game-with-the/) [Jim Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-evans/) > [I fairly sizzle with zeal, energy, and enthusiasm; eager to do that which ought to be done by me today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fillmore/i-fairly-sizzle-with-zeal-energy-and-enthusiasm-eager-to-do-that/) [Charles Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fillmore/) > [Roughly speaking, any man with energy and enthusiasm ought to be able to bring at least a dozen others round to his opinion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/roughly-speaking-any-man-with-energy-and-enthusiasm-ought-to-be-able/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [I think that the thing that holds so many of us back is our fear that we might fail, and I think we lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/i-think-that-the-thing-that-holds-so-many-of-us-back-is-our-fear-that/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) [Browse all 45 Energy and enthusiasm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-and-enthusiasm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so much energy and enthusiasm from hate. 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