--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every ignoramus imagines that all that…" description: "\"Every ignoramus imagines that all that exists, exists with a view to his individual sake; it is as if there were nothing that exists except him. And if..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/maimonides-2639_contrary_every-ignoramus-imagines-that-all-that-e_1448121.png" --- # Every ignoramus imagines that all that exists, exists with… ![“Every ignoramus imagines that all that exists, exists with a view to his individual sake; it is as if there were nothing that exists except him. And if something happens to him that is contrary to what he wishes, he makes the trenchant judgement that all that exists is an evil.” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/maimonides-2639_contrary_every-ignoramus-imagines-that-all-that-e_1448121.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/maimonides-2639_contrary_every-ignoramus-imagines-that-all-that-e_1448121.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/maimonides-2639_contrary_every-ignoramus-imagines-that-all-that-e_1448121.png) > “Every ignoramus imagines that all that exists, exists with a view to his individual sake; it is as if there were nothing that exists except him. And if something happens to him that is contrary to what he wishes, he makes the trenchant judgement that all that exists is an evil.” [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often view reality only through self‑interest, deeming everything else irrelevant or harmful when it opposes personal desires. **In simple terms:** Self‑centered view distorts reality. Key Takeaway Recognize broader perspectives beyond personal gain. Themes egoism perception philosophy Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - conflict resolution - ethical debates Key Concepts subjectivity anthropocentrism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑interest shape your judgments? - What happens when reality contradicts personal wishes? A Different Perspective May ignore others' needs and societal welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Exists Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-evil-1803396/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ignoramus Imagines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignoramus-imagines-5200710/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagine that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-that/) [Imagines Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagines-exists-5200712/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Judgement Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement-exists-5200711/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [The great lesson of our time is that evil still exists, and when evil is on the march, it must be confronted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-solarz/the-great-lesson-of-our-time-is-that-evil-still-exists-and-when-evil/) [Stephen J. Solarz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-solarz/) > [“The presence and love of the Word had called them into being; inevitably, therefore when they lost the knowledge of God, they lost existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius-of-alexandria/the-presence-and-love-of-the-word-had-called-them-into-being/) [Athanasius of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius-of-alexandria/) > [Evil exists. Evil is real. One of the hallmarks of evil is that it seeks to convince its victims that it exists 'out there.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/evil-exists-evil-is-real-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-evil-is-that-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Anything that exists has some goodness in it because God made it. And no matter how marred or broken or sinful that being is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/anything-that-exists-has-some-goodness-in-it-because-god-made-it-and/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“If only you would go to the university," he said. "Only enlightened and holy people are interesting, it's only they who are wanted. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-only-you-would-go-to-the-university-he-said-only-enlightened-and/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [If you persuade yourself that you can do a certain thing, provided this thing be possible, you will do it, however difficult it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-coue/if-you-persuade-yourself-that-you-can-do-a-certain-thing-provided/) [Emile Coue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-coue/) > [It is of great advantage that man should know his station, and not imagine that the whole universe exists only for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/it-is-of-great-advantage-that-man-should-know-his-station-and-not/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Don't think of us as separate beings. Imagine that we are one body and it's been split into millions. When we sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/don-t-think-of-us-as-separate-beings-imagine-that-we-are-one-body-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I imagine that in a closed, hermetic society like the mob, where everybody knows each other, it must be really, really unpleasant to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dominik/i-imagine-that-in-a-closed-hermetic-society-like-the-mob-where/) [Andrew Dominik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dominik/) > [Jane had that happy disposition which would like to imagine that every one really wishes the well-being of his neighbour and struggles, though sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/jane-had-that-happy-disposition-which-would-like-to-imagine-that/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [It seems an insult to nature and to the Creator to imagine that pregnancy was ever intended to be a sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-bisbee-duffey/it-seems-an-insult-to-nature-and-to-the-creator-to-imagine-that/) [Eliza Bisbee Duffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-bisbee-duffey/) > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) ## More by Maimonides > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Hear the truth from whomever says it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/hear-the-truth-from-whomever-says-it/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/it-is-better-and-more-satisfactory-to-acquit-a-thousand-guilty/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [God cannot be compared to anything. Note this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/god-cannot-be-compared-to-anything-note-this/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Even the existence of this corporeal element, low as it in reality is, because it is the source of death and all evils, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/even-the-existence-of-this-corporeal-element-low-as-it-in-reality-is/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in-mind-that-by-faith-we-do-not/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The philosophers likewise assume that in Nature there is nothing in vain, so that everything that is not the product of human industry serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-philosophers-likewise-assume-that-in-nature-there-is-nothing-in/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [That which is produced with intention has passed over from non-existence to existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/that-which-is-produced-with-intention-has-passed-over-from-non/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [No form remains permanently in a substance; a constant change takes place, one form is taken off and another is put on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/no-form-remains-permanently-in-a-substance-a-constant-change-takes/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/further-there-are-things-of-which-the-mind-understands-one-part-but/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Now, we occupy a lowly position, both in space and rank in comparison with the heavenly sphere, and the Almighty is Most High not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/now-we-occupy-a-lowly-position-both-in-space-and-rank-in-comparison/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-men-possessed-wisdom-which-stands-in-the-same-relation-to-the-form/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Know that the difficulties which lead to confusion in the question what is the purpose of the Universe or of any of its parts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/know-that-the-difficulties-which-lead-to-confusion-in-the-question/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [You will find that there is no other difference of opinion as regards any portions of the Universe, except that the philosophers believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/you-will-find-that-there-is-no-other-difference-of-opinion-as-regards/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) [Explore all 156 Maimonides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More Contrary quotes > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. 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It is so completely contrary to the way man does things that it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/christianity-righty-understood-is-utterly-unlike-religion-that-man/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) [Browse all 1,589 Contrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every ignoramus imagines that all that exists, exists with a view to his individual sake; it is as if there were nothing that exists except him. 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