Aim Quote by Matt Ridley
“It is the assumption of this book that there is a typical human nature. It is the aim of this book to seek it. Just like a surgeon, a psychiatrist can make all sorts of basic assumptions when a patient lies down upon the couch. He can assume that the patient knows what it means to love, to envy, to trust, to think, to speak, to fear, to smile, to bargain, to covet, to dream, to remember, to sing, to quarrel, to lie. The 'smile' of a baboon is a threat; the smile of a man is a sign of pleasure: it is human nature, the world over.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Origins of Human Nature, 2015
The author treats human behavior as a set of universal traits, assuming all people share basic emotions and capacities, similar to a doctor’s diagnostic assumptions.
In simple terms: Human nature is seen as common across cultures.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared emotional foundations.
Themes
psychology
anthropology
biology
human nature
universality
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- clinical assessment
- cross‑cultural research
- teaching psychology
- writing fiction
Key Concepts
evolutionary psychology
cognitive bias
cross‑cultural studies
Questions to Reflect On
- Do all societies share the same emotions?
- How do individual differences affect these assumptions?
A Different Perspective
Assumes uniformity, ignoring cultural variation.
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
![“I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback [in "The Invisible Woman"]. Ralph [Fiennes] was very open to my input, I think knowing that he couldn't always be there 100 percent, that he had dual aims with directing and acting.” quote by Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/56e/felicity-jones-2070_acting_i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-wa_11933.jpg)
