--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings, who are almost unique in…" description: "\"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/mahatma-gandhi-23_ability_human-beings-who-are-almost-unique-in-ha_663870.jpg" --- # Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability… ![“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/mahatma-gandhi-23_ability_human-beings-who-are-almost-unique-in-ha_663870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/mahatma-gandhi-23_ability_human-beings-who-are-almost-unique-in-ha_663870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/mahatma-gandhi-23_ability_human-beings-who-are-almost-unique-in-ha_663870.jpg) > “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans can learn from others but often refuse; despite some flaws, humanity remains fundamentally good. **In simple terms:** People ignore lessons yet stay mostly good. Key Takeaway Maintain belief in humanity’s potential. Themes humanity learning optimism morality Mood hopeful thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - community leadership - conflict resolution - public policy Key Concepts social learning collective behavior ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage learning from others? - What actions restore trust in humanity? A Different Perspective Some may argue systemic issues outweigh individual goodness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability To Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-to-learn/) [Faith in humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-humanity/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Real 'imaan' is faith in humanity, so those who deny goodness are kafirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asghar-ali-engineer/real-imaan-is-faith-in-humanity-so-those-who-deny-goodness-are-kafirs/) [Asghar Ali Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asghar-ali-engineer/) > [The sight of parents, children and grandparents all descending on a tented field to enjoy the pleasure of ideas and books renews my faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/the-sight-of-parents-children-and-grandparents-all-descending-on-a/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [My faith in humanity leads me to believe that people are looking for something more elevating than the sordid details of the intimate aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/my-faith-in-humanity-leads-me-to-believe-that-people-are-looking-for/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [“I was swiftly losing faith in humanity. Not that I had much to spare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/i-was-swiftly-losing-faith-in-humanity-not-that-i-had-much-to-spare/) wildbow > [Don't lose faith in humanity; think of all the people in the United States who have never played you a single nasty trick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-lose-faith-in-humanity-think-of-all-the-people-in-the-united/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Cutting the space budget really restores my faith in humanity. It eliminates dreams, goals, and ideals and lets us get straight to the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hart/cutting-the-space-budget-really-restores-my-faith-in-humanity-it/) [Johnny Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hart/) > [If a heartfelt apology on Twitter isn't enough to restore some small semblance of faith in humanity, I don't know what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-keilar/if-a-heartfelt-apology-on-twitter-isn-t-enough-to-restore-some-small/) [Brianna Keilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-keilar/) > [Restored my faith in humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/restored-my-faith-in-humanity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I didn’t have much faith in humanity before. 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But I meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/when-you-read-the-news-and-you-see-all-this-bad-stuff-happening-there/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [“When a writer uses his secret wounds as his starting point, he is, whether he is aware of it or not, putting great faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-jackson/when-a-writer-uses-his-secret-wounds-as-his-starting-point-he-is/) Michael D. Jackson > [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [I have a lot of faith in us. I have a lot of faith in humanity. It's based, though, on my own life; I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-have-a-lot-of-faith-in-us-i-have-a-lot-of-faith-in-humanity-it-s/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## More by Mahatma Gandhi > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Religions are not for separating men from one another, they are meant to bind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religions-are-not-for-separating-men-from-one-another-they-are-meant/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was only in South Africa that I got over this shyness, though I never completely overcame it. It was impossible for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-was-only-in-south-africa-that-i-got-over-this-shyness-though-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Where there is life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-life/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If it was wrong to seek God in a stone, how was it right to seek Him in a book called the Gita, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-it-was-wrong-to-seek-god-in-a-stone-how-was-it-right-to-seek-him/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-democracy-cannot-be-established-in-the-midst-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My motto is "Unite now, today if you can; fight if you must. But in every case avoid British intervention."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-motto-is-unite-now-today-if-you-can-fight-if-you-must-but-in-every/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man becomes not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-becomes-not-the-lord-and-master-of-all-creation-but-he-is-its/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Explore all 3,284 Mahatma Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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