--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The abilities distinctive of human beings…" description: "\"“The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. The relevant abilities of intellect are thought, imagination (the cogit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/p-m-s-hacker-267766_abilities_the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-being_111840.jpg" --- # The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of… ![“The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. The relevant abilities of intellect are thought, imagination (the cogitative and creative imagination rather than the image-generating faculty), personal (experiential) and factual memory, reasoning and selfconsciousness.” quote by P. M. S. Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/p-m-s-hacker-267766_abilities_the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-being_111840.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/p-m-s-hacker-267766_abilities_the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-being_111840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/p-m-s-hacker-267766_abilities_the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-being_111840.jpg) > ““The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. The relevant abilities of intellect are thought, imagination (the cogitative and creative imagination rather than the image-generating faculty), personal (experiential) and factual memory, reasoning and selfconsciousness.”” [P. M. S. Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-s-hacker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human uniqueness lies in intellect and will, encompassing thought, imagination, memory, reasoning, and self‑awareness. **In simple terms:** Our mind’s powers define us. Key Takeaway Cultivate intellect and will. Themes human nature intellect will creativity memory Mood inquisitive reflective Type advice insight When to use this quote - education - creative work - personal development - leadership Key Concepts cognitive psychology philosophy of mind Questions to Reflect On - Which mental ability do you value most? - How can will shape your thoughts? A Different Perspective Intellect alone doesn’t guarantee moral action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities/) [Abilities Distinctive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities-distinctive-1326630/) [Abilities Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities-intellect-1326629/) [Beings Abilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-abilities-1326631/) [Creative imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-imagination/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [If you put your faith in yourself and your abilities, intellect and dreams, then your foundation is only as strong as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/if-you-put-your-faith-in-yourself-and-your-abilities-intellect-and/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [The age of warrior kings and of warrior presidents has passed. The nuclear age calls for a different kind of leadership… a leadership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/the-age-of-warrior-kings-and-of-warrior-presidents-has-passed-the/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Dreams are more powerful than facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/dreams-are-more-powerful-than-facts/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Like every novelist, I fantasise about film. Novelists are not equipped to make a movie, in my opinion. They make their own movie when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/like-every-novelist-i-fantasise-about-film-novelists-are-not-equipped/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Prayer is the highest form, the supreme act of the Creative Imagination. ... For prayer is not a request for something: it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-corbin/prayer-is-the-highest-form-the-supreme-act-of-the-creative/) [Henry Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-corbin/) > [“For a century and a half, people have wondered what factors - genetic and environmental - were especially significant in the evolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-thorm-hlen/for-a-century-and-a-half-people-have-wondered-what-factors-genetic/) [Marianne Thormählen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-thorm-hlen/) > [“But as he stands before imminent death, he grasps its nature also, and the cosmic import of the step to come. His creative imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/but-as-he-stands-before-imminent-death-he-grasps-its-nature-also-and/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) > [“Nonfiction at its best is like fashioning a cabinet. It can be elegant and very beautiful but it can never be sculpture. Captive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/nonfiction-at-its-best-is-like-fashioning-a-cabinet-it-can-be-elegant/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [Look at life through the wrong end of the telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/look-at-life-through-the-wrong-end-of-the-telescope/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [“The dragonfly and damselfly reflect and work with the sun and light. The light changes throughout the day. The dragonfly and damselfly undergo their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-andrews/the-dragonfly-and-damselfly-reflect-and-work-with-the-sun-and-light/) [Ted Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-andrews/) > [Soul, a particle of God, is blessed with the gift of creative imagination, which finds a solution for every problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/soul-a-particle-of-god-is-blessed-with-the-gift-of-creative/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [Reading has been the fuel of my motivation: it has changed the direction in which I have traveled, and it has enhanced my creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/reading-has-been-the-fuel-of-my-motivation-it-has-changed-the/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Without ... the creative imagination rushing in where bureaucratic angels fear to tread - without this, life is a mockery and a disgrace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/without-the-creative-imagination-rushing-in-where-bureaucratic-angels/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Held in the palms of thousands of disgruntled people over the centuries have been ideas worth millions - if they only had taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hayes/held-in-the-palms-of-thousands-of-disgruntled-people-over-the/) [Robert M. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hayes/) > [Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist's eye and a human heart and soul. His songs are the work of an original,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/peter-cooper-looks-at-the-world-with-an-artist-s-eye-and-a-human/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) ## More Abilities quotes > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I fight in the ring on my natural abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-fight-in-the-ring-on-my-natural-abilities/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“He finally found someone like him. Someone who shared his abilities, someone who understood what he had to go through every day. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaxon-reed/he-finally-found-someone-like-him-someone-who-shared-his-abilities/) [Jaxon Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaxon-reed/) > [“I come from a land afar and a land up high. My abilities are only eclipsed by my excellent turn of phrase and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-william-shaw/i-come-from-a-land-afar-and-a-land-up-high-my-abilities-are-only/) [Thomas William Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-william-shaw/) > [As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-advance-in-life-we-learn-the-limits-of-our-abilities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to use the abilities that God has given me to do my job well and support my crewmates and mission and NASA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-glover/i-want-to-use-the-abilities-that-god-has-given-me-to-do-my-job-well/) [Victor J. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-glover/) > [“One should try to live with his abilities rather than his deprivals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/one-should-try-to-live-with-his-abilities-rather-than-his-deprivals/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-in-yourself-and-have-faith-in-your-abilities/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [No matter our age, our circumstances, or abilities... Each one of us can create something remarkable with our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/no-matter-our-age-our-circumstances-or-abilities-each-one-of-us-can/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“Capability can handle challenges, it doesn't accept charity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/capability-can-handle-challenges-it-doesn-t-accept-charity/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/when-i-hire-actors-i-believe-in-their-abilities/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [“Earl "The Goat" Manigault was probably the greatest basketball player of all time, but Michael Jordan is universally regarded as the best ever. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/earl-the-goat-manigault-was-probably-the-greatest-basketball-player/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [A hero is defined by what he or she can do, not by what he or she cannot do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-throop/a-hero-is-defined-by-what-he-or-she-can-do-not-by-what-he-or-she/) [Damon Throop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-throop/) > [“There are different kinds of birds and there are different situations and places to find these birds. Some of these birds choose to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/there-are-different-kinds-of-birds-and-there-are-different-situations/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [People’s beliefs about their abilities have a profound effect on those abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/people-s-beliefs-about-their-abilities-have-a-profound-effect-on/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) [Browse all 259 Abilities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. 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