---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On the other hand, you're a human--you…"
description: "\"“On the other hand, you're a human--you should understand self-obsession.”\" — Markus Zusak"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png"
---

#  On the other hand, you're a human--you should understand…

![“On the other hand, you're a human--you should understand self-obsession.” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png)

> ““On the other hand, you're a human--you should understand self-obsession.””

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humans are naturally self‑absorbed, so understanding this tendency is key to empathy and self‑awareness.

**In simple terms:** People are naturally self‑focused.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and balance self‑interest with empathy.

Themes

self‑awareness empathy human nature

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- leadership
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does recognizing self‑obsession improve your interactions?
- What strategies help balance self‑interest and empathy?

A Different Perspective

Self‑obsession can hinder collaboration if unchecked.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-obsession/)

## Related quotes

> [You’re a human, you should understand self-obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-re-a-human-you-should-understand-self-obsession/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Boxing is the embodiment of who I am, but beyond that, this is a journey of the self, and my obsession to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-joshua/boxing-is-the-embodiment-of-who-i-am-but-beyond-that-this-is-a/)

[Anthony Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-joshua/)

> [My significant other right now is myself, which is what happens when you suffer from multiple personality disorder and self-obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/my-significant-other-right-now-is-myself-which-is-what-happens-when/)

[Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/)

> [“You cannot be a solid leader without sacrificing self-interest and self-obsession,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-cannot-be-a-solid-leader-without-sacrificing-self-interest-and/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Every time feels like my first time. And I just find that the process of it feeds into one's own self-obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/every-time-feels-like-my-first-time-and-i-just-find-that-the-process/)

[Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/)

> [Up until I became a father, it was all about self-obsession. But then I learned exactly what it's all about: the delight of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/up-until-i-became-a-father-it-was-all-about-self-obsession-but-then-i/)

[Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/)

> [“Yess,” it hissed. “You do well to remind me. You matter, young human. I may not understand why, but there is a reason you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-hoover/yess-it-hissed-you-do-well-to-remind-me-you-matter-young-human-i-may/)

[H. M. Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-hoover/)

> [There is a lot of difference between Human being and Being human. But Very few understand it..! Think About It..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/there-is-a-lot-of-difference-between-human-being-and-being-human-but/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [in all cultures, human beings - in order to be human - must understand the nonhuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/in-all-cultures-human-beings-in-order-to-be-human-must-understand-the/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [“Wouldn't we all do better not trying to understand, accepting the fact that no human being will ever understand another, not a wife a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/wouldn-t-we-all-do-better-not-trying-to-understand-accepting-the-fact/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

> [Time has its revenges, but revenge seems so often sour. Wouldn’t we all do better not trying to understand, accepting the fact that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/time-has-its-revenges-but-revenge-seems-so-often-sour-wouldn-t-we-all/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

> [Social science means inventing a certain brand of human we can understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/social-science-means-inventing-a-certain-brand-of-human-we-can/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [“the great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be found in someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-great-aim-of-every-human-being-is-to-understand-the-meaning-of/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [I want people to learn from me, see I'm human, and understand that I make mistakes just like they do, but it doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-haim/i-want-people-to-learn-from-me-see-i-m-human-and-understand-that-i/)

[Corey Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-haim/)

> [“He should know that the great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/he-should-know-that-the-great-aim-of-every-human-being-is-to/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

## More by Markus Zusak

> [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

[Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

## More Identity quotes

> [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/)

[Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/)

[Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/)

> [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/)

[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/)

> [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/)

[Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/)

> [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/)

[Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/)

> [“Self-realization or self-knowing or awakening is about knowing/ becoming conscious of our true nature and living in harmony with the universe in an ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/self-realization-or-self-knowing-or-awakening-is-about-knowing/)

[Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/)

> [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/)

[Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/)

> [“Why were there no words that spoke positively about being concerned about the self? Why was there only negative connotation in terms like "selfish",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-dalton/why-were-there-no-words-that-spoke-positively-about-being-concerned/)

A.J. Dalton

[Browse all 11,949 Identity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“On the other hand, you're a human--you should understand self-obsession.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Markus Zusak"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-should-understand-self-obsession/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Identity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-should-understand-self-obsession/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/markus-zusak-165_identity_on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-sho_365575.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“On the other hand, you're a human--you should understand self-obsession.” — Markus Zusak",
                "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": "Markus Zusak",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“On the other hand, you're a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-should-understand-self-obsession/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/on-the-other-hand-you-re-a-human-you-should-understand-self-obsession/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
