--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our behavior toward each other is the…" description: "\"Our behavior toward each other is the strangest, most unpredictable, and most unaccountable of all the phenomena with which we are obliged to live. In ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a7/lewis-thomas-2299_behavior_our-behavior-toward-each-other-is-the-st_2085419.png" --- # Our behavior toward each other is the strangest, most… ![“Our behavior toward each other is the strangest, most unpredictable, and most unaccountable of all the phenomena with which we are obliged to live. In all of nature, there is nothing so threatening to humanity as humanity itself.” quote by Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a7/lewis-thomas-2299_behavior_our-behavior-toward-each-other-is-the-st_2085419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a7/lewis-thomas-2299_behavior_our-behavior-toward-each-other-is-the-st_2085419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a7/lewis-thomas-2299_behavior_our-behavior-toward-each-other-is-the-st_2085419.png) > “Our behavior toward each other is the strangest, most unpredictable, and most unaccountable of all the phenomena with which we are obliged to live. In all of nature, there is nothing so threatening to humanity as humanity itself.” [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human interactions are unpredictable and often lack accountability, making humanity both the most threatening and the most complex phenomenon. **In simple terms:** People act unpredictably and without responsibility. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy and accountability. Themes human nature social dynamics existential risk Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - workplace - family - online communities - political discourse Key Concepts psychology philosophy systems theory Questions to Reflect On - What drives unpredictable behavior? - How can accountability be fostered? A Different Perspective Human behavior can also be cooperative and altruistic, not only threatening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-humanity-326427/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Obliged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obliged/) [Threatening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatening/) [Threatening Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatening-humanity-4095514/) [Unaccountable Phenomena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unaccountable-phenomena-4095515/) [Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable/) ## Related quotes > [Male critics and men in the publishing industry want from their women writers what they want from their wives. 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This is simply to suggest that human beings must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-was-deeply-interested-in-conveying-what-is-a-deeply-felt-conviction/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [“When a human life is open to all that humanity can be, humanity and divinity flow together as one. It was and is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-a-human-life-is-open-to-all-that-humanity-can-be-humanity-and/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-not-lose-faith-in-humanity-humanity-is-like-an-ocean-if-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lewis Thomas > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. 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Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [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/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. 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