--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What makes you think human beings are…" description: "\"“What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg" --- # What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware?… ![“What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told-and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The…” quote by Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg) > ““What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told-and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion. Next question.”” [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human awareness is questioned; conformity drives belief‑based conflicts, suggesting that much of what we consider consciousness is social conditioning rather than true insight. **In simple terms:** People often follow beliefs without real self‑awareness. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about consciousness. Themes conformity beliefs human nature conflict extinction risk Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical provocative When to use this quote - academic debate - ethical policy - education reform - public discourse Key Concepts philosophy evolutionary psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Can individuals break free from societal conformity? - What role does education play in fostering true awareness? A Different Perspective The view may overlook individual agency and the capacity for critical thinking beyond conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-kingdom/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [“What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There’s no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-sentient-and-aware-there-s-no-2/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-characteristic-human-trait-is-not-awareness-but-conformity-and/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Human beings never think for themselves... For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told-and become upset if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/human-beings-never-think-for-themselves-for-the-most-part-members-of/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-characteristic-human-trait-is-not-awareness-but-conformity-and-2/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their ‘beliefs.’ The reason is that beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/other-animals-fight-for-territory-or-food-but-uniquely-in-the-animal/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Everyone does what they can to avoid thinking. Laziness is the most basic human trait. People don't want to think -- they can't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-chytilova/everyone-does-what-they-can-to-avoid-thinking-laziness-is-the-most/) Vera Chytilova > [“Overconsumption is a universal human trait,” Orlu pointed out. “And so is ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnedi-okorafor/overconsumption-is-a-universal-human-trait-orlu-pointed-out-and-so-is/) [Nnedi Okorafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnedi-okorafor/) > [“Revenge is a human trait, one that has been the cause of the destruction of civilisations many times over. But the goblins live on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-anton-dance-of-the-goblins/revenge-is-a-human-trait-one-that-has-been-the-cause-of-the/) Count Anton Dance of the Goblins > [“A core human trait is to cooperate, at the core of our economics is to compete in order to have: to have what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carlsson/a-core-human-trait-is-to-cooperate-at-the-core-of-our-economics-is-to/) Steve Carlsson > [Nostalgia is a very human trait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/nostalgia-is-a-very-human-trait/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Tis a human trait to hate one you have wronged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tis-a-human-trait-to-hate-one-you-have-wronged/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “The great obstacle to the 'struggle toward clear vision of the universal' is the human trait that Mondrian variously calls 'individuality,' 'personality'... \[p.73\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lipsey/the-great-obstacle-to-the-struggle-toward-clear-vision-of-the/) Roger Lipsey > [“The hedonic treadmill is one example of the common human trait of adaptation. Studies of human response to positive and negative events have shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-hedonic-treadmill-is-one-example-of-the-common-human-trait-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being jealous isn't a female trait, its a human trait...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-jealous-isn-t-a-female-trait-its-a-human-trait/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The single most valuable human trait, the one quality every schoolchild and adult should be taught to nurture, is, quite simply, kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/the-single-most-valuable-human-trait-the-one-quality-every/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) ## More by Michael Crichton > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“it is important to recognize that the behavior of the two antagonists mirrors each other, like a Rorschach inkblot. The value of a Rorschach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/it-is-important-to-recognize-that-the-behavior-of-the-two-antagonists/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Exercise invigorates the body and sharpens the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/exercise-invigorates-the-body-and-sharpens-the-mind/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Social control is best managed through fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/social-control-is-best-managed-through-fear/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [They always say they didn't. I never heard of one who said, 'You know, I deserve this.' Never happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-always-say-they-didn-t-i-never-heard-of-one-who-said-you-know-i/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I can tell you that second hand smoke is not a health hazard to anyone and never was, and the EPA has always known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/i-can-tell-you-that-second-hand-smoke-is-not-a-health-hazard-to/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [As the practical value of altering consciousness becomes recognized, procedures to effect these alterations will become increasingly ordinary and unremarkable. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/as-the-practical-value-of-altering-consciousness-becomes-recognized/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/books-aren-t-written-they-re-rewritten-including-your-own-it-is-one/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. It doesn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-stay-alive-watch-any-animal-in-nature-all/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [One of the things that Americans, as a multiracial society, feel is a tremendous sensitivity to racial comments of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-things-that-americans-as-a-multiracial-society-feel-is-a/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This fascination with computer models is something I understand very well. Richard Feynmann called it a disease. I fear he is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-fascination-with-computer-models-is-something-i-understand-very/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) [Explore all 386 Michael Crichton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## More Animal kingdom quotes > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [I consider the differences between man and animals in propensities, feelings, and intellectual faculties, to be the result of the same cause as that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-william-lawrence-1st-baronet/i-consider-the-differences-between-man-and-animals-in-propensities/) Sir William Lawrence, 1st Baronet > [“Sometimes, humanity surprises me with all its lack of control over the primordial urges. These innate urges are the biological traits that make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sometimes-humanity-surprises-me-with-all-its-lack-of-control-over-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [ “\[Materialism\] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-simple-state-of-matter-and/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [I placed myself in amongst the animal kingdom so that I would be able to confront myself actually. It did not start out as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-treadwell/i-placed-myself-in-amongst-the-animal-kingdom-so-that-i-would-be-able/) [Timothy Treadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-treadwell/) > [The logical outcome of evolution is that it makes monsters. We turn into monsters because evolution takes away everything that makes us human in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-peretti/the-logical-outcome-of-evolution-is-that-it-makes-monsters-we-turn/) [Frank Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-peretti/) > [The progress of dynamic ideals will not be eternally blocked. Through general, moral and intellectual advancement... shall the latent aspiration of justice for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-isaac-kook/the-progress-of-dynamic-ideals-will-not-be-eternally-blocked-through/) [Abraham Isaac Kook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-isaac-kook/) > [Shame doesn't exist in the animal kingdom. It's a human conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-torres/shame-doesn-t-exist-in-the-animal-kingdom-it-s-a-human-conception/) [Justin Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-torres/) > [I am still passionate about Grizzly bears as well as the rest of the animal kingdom and I understand now how precious people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-treadwell/i-am-still-passionate-about-grizzly-bears-as-well-as-the-rest-of-the/) [Timothy Treadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-treadwell/) > [Expedition EVEREST adds a new dimension to our storytelling in Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's a thrilling adventure themed to the folklore of the mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rohde/expedition-everest-adds-a-new-dimension-to-our-storytelling-in-disney/) Joe Rohde > [“If we put aside the self-awareness standard -- and really, how arbitrary and arrogant is that, to take the attribute of consciousness we happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/if-we-put-aside-the-self-awareness-standard-and-really-how-arbitrary/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“We can always be human Meeting each day a wise new man But the Animal Kingdom to which we belong Animals we are; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/we-can-always-be-human-meeting-each-day-a-wise-new-man-but-the-animal/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“Can't we make a blusterer ourselves? asked Jón Hreggviðsson. Can't we scratch that damned sign with the ax-point onto the chopping block and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halld-r-laxness/can-t-we-make-a-blusterer-ourselves-asked-j-n-hreggvi-sson-can-t-we/) [Halldór Laxness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halld-r-laxness/) > [In the animal kingdom, one of the keys to survival is to outwit your enemies. And when you're surrounded by carnivores, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-animal-kingdom-one-of-the-keys-to-survival-is-to-outwit-your/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I was 'alone' amongst the animal kingdom and I required of myself to see what was truly going on inside me so that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-treadwell/i-was-alone-amongst-the-animal-kingdom-and-i-required-of-myself-to/) [Timothy Treadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-treadwell/) [Browse all 144 Animal kingdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-kingdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told-and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion. Next question.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Crichton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-sentient-and-aware-there-s-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal kingdom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-sentient-and-aware-there-s-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/michael-crichton-694_animal-kingdom_what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-se_1957978.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never…” — Michael Crichton", "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": "Michael Crichton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What makes you think human beings...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-sentient-and-aware-there-s-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/what-makes-you-think-human-beings-are-sentient-and-aware-there-s-no/#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 } } ] } ```