--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we are to understand the human…" description: "\"If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg" --- # If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are… ![“If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation, both as human being and as artist, we have to know all we can about each…” quote by May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg) > “If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation, both as human being and as artist, we have to know all we can about each other, and we have to be willing to go naked.” [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding humanity and ourselves demands embracing all emotions and exposing our true selves without fear. **In simple terms:** Accept all feelings and be open. Key Takeaway Embrace complexity, be authentic. Themes acceptance complexity authenticity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - creative work - personal growth - therapy - team building Key Concepts human nature emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to share your imperfections? - What benefits arise from emotional honesty? A Different Perspective Full exposure can lead to vulnerability and social risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Complexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complexity/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Extravagance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagance/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Freeing Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freeing-self-5706516/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Nudity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nudity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-doubt/) [Understand Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-human/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-naked-3594073/) ## Related quotes > [To write well you must be willing to go naked into the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keys-moran/to-write-well-you-must-be-willing-to-go-naked-into-the-world/) [Daniel Keys Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keys-moran/) > [“Handsome hero wanted. Brave in the face of certain danger. Must be willing to get naked with other species. At least six-inch penis required.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/handsome-hero-wanted-brave-in-the-face-of-certain-danger-must-be/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [I understand human needs. I grew up where far too many people lived day to day without elemental needs like food and shelter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/i-understand-human-needs-i-grew-up-where-far-too-many-people-lived/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I have never quite understood - and this is no doubt my failing - I never quite understood why you would read fiction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-never-quite-understood-and-this-is-no-doubt-my-failing-i-never/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [When you judge someone on their appearance or first words, you miss the opportunity to understand another human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-brown/when-you-judge-someone-on-their-appearance-or-first-words-you-miss/) [Leon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-brown/) > [“I couldn’t understand how one human bein’ could do that to another. I couldn’t understand that kind of hate. I mean … what road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccammon/i-couldn-t-understand-how-one-human-bein-could-do-that-to-another-i/) [Robert McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccammon/) > [“We can argue about their intelligence (which we would likely define in human-centric terms anyway), their ability to understand human language, or even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-torres/we-can-argue-about-their-intelligence-which-we-would-likely-define-in/) [Bob Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-torres/) > [When I first arrived in beautiful Zimbabwe, it was difficult to understand that 35 percent of the population is HIV positive. It really wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashburn/when-i-first-arrived-in-beautiful-zimbabwe-it-was-difficult-to/) [Kristen Ashburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashburn/) > [To understand another human being you must gain some insight into the conditions which made him what he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/to-understand-another-human-being-you-must-gain-some-insight-into-the/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [I say you don't need religion, or political ideology, to understand human nature. Science reveals that human nature is greedy and selfish, altruistic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/i-say-you-don-t-need-religion-or-political-ideology-to-understand/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [My dad was always interested in characters he didn't understand - he was such a great bad guy in movies. And that is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/my-dad-was-always-interested-in-characters-he-didn-t-understand-he/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [I think to try to understand human behavior and why people do what they do, and what in their lives have shaped them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/i-think-to-try-to-understand-human-behavior-and-why-people-do-what/) [Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/) > [“Cayl replies...I understand the human reproductive system, Agent Denning; I’m here to capture a killer, not indulge in these intrusive human senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tielle-st-clare/cayl-replies-i-understand-the-human-reproductive-system-agent-denning/) [Tielle St. Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tielle-st-clare/) > [If you want to understand human beings, there are plenty of people to go to besides psychologists… Most of these people are incapable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-standen/if-you-want-to-understand-human-beings-there-are-plenty-of-people-to/) [Anthony Standen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-standen/) > [“It can be seen not just as part of the human condition, but central to what it is to be human. We recognize in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-inglis/it-can-be-seen-not-just-as-part-of-the-human-condition-but-central-to/) [Tom Inglis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-inglis/) ## More by May Sarton > [“I felt pain like an assault, The old pain again When the world thrusts itself inside, When we have to take in the outside,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-felt-pain-like-an-assault-the-old-pain-again-when-the-world-thrusts/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Most people have to talk so they won't hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/most-people-have-to-talk-so-they-won-t-hear/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [People who cannot feel punish those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/people-who-cannot-feel-punish-those-who-do/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [This suspension of one's own reality, this being entirely alone in a strange city (at times I wondered if I had lost the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/this-suspension-of-one-s-own-reality-this-being-entirely-alone-in-a/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/one-must-think-like-a-hero-to-behave-like-a-merely-decent-human-being/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Real joy is becoming exceedingly rare among artists of any kind. And I have an idea that those who can and do communicate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/real-joy-is-becoming-exceedingly-rare-among-artists-of-any-kind-and-i/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [For to be desperate is to discover strength. / We die of comfort and by conflict live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-to-be-desperate-is-to-discover-strength-we-die-of-comfort-and-by/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“I see you with that shell Held to your sensitive abstracted ear, Hunting the ocean’s rumor till you hear it well, Until you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-see-you-with-that-shell-held-to-your-sensitive-abstracted-ear/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [There is a wilder solitude in winter When every sense is pricked alive and keen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/there-is-a-wilder-solitude-in-winter-when-every-sense-is-pricked/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I long for the bulbs to arrive, for the early autumn chores are melancholy, but the planting of bulbs is the work of hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-long-for-the-bulbs-to-arrive-for-the-early-autumn-chores-are/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Why is it that people who cannot show feeling presume that that is a strength and not a weakness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/why-is-it-that-people-who-cannot-show-feeling-presume-that-that-is-a/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Innocence is not pure so much as pleased, Always expectant, bright-eyed, self-enclosed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/innocence-is-not-pure-so-much-as-pleased-always-expectant-bright-eyed/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I have written every poem, every novel, for the same purpose-to find out what I think, to know where I stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-have-written-every-poem-every-novel-for-the-same-purpose-to-find/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [For art is order, but it is born out of the chaos of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-art-is-order-but-it-is-born-out-of-the-chaos-of-life/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [all great people are humble because great people have great work and are humbled by the largeness of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/all-great-people-are-humble-because-great-people-have-great-work-and/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) [Explore all 336 May Sarton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation, both as human being and as artist, we have to know all we can about each other, and we have to be willing to go naked.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "May Sarton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condition-and-if-we-are-to-accept/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condition-and-if-we-are-to-accept/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1cc/may-sarton-897_accepting_if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condit_1535415.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity…” — May Sarton", "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": "May Sarton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we are to understand the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condition-and-if-we-are-to-accept/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/if-we-are-to-understand-the-human-condition-and-if-we-are-to-accept/#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 } } ] } ```