--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think people are inherently…" description: "\"I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing, pleasureseeking, unempathetic, self-serving, greedy and lustful.\" — Park Dietz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg" --- # I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing… ![“I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing, pleasureseeking, unempathetic, self-serving, greedy and lustful.” quote by Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg) > “I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing, pleasureseeking, unempathetic, self-serving, greedy and lustful.” [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He lists negative human traits, suggesting they are common drivers of criminal behavior. **In simple terms:** People often act out of selfish, harmful impulses. Key Takeaway Recognize and mitigate destructive impulses. Themes human nature crime morality psychology Mood analytical serious Type psychological ethical When to use this quote - law enforcement - rehabilitation - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts self‑interest lack of empathy greed lust Questions to Reflect On - How do societal structures curb these impulses? - Can empathy be cultivated to counteract them? A Different Perspective Not all individuals exhibit these traits equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggrandizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggrandizing-2163453/) [Aggrandizing Pleasureseeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggrandizing-pleasureseeking-5975694/) [Greedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedy/) [Greedy Lustful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedy-lustful-5975695/) [Lustful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lustful/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Inherently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-inherently-376604/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Aggrandizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-aggrandizing-2948620/) [Self serving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-serving/) [Serving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is more untoward than a grown man tasking another with snapping a pic expressly so he can 'flex the 'fit.' It's tacky -self-aggrandizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-h-k-choi/nothing-is-more-untoward-than-a-grown-man-tasking-another-with/) [Mary H.K. Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-h-k-choi/) > [“Similarly, those who have been weaned off the self-aggrandizing attractions of political power are those who can then best be entrusted with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-w-l-moberly/similarly-those-who-have-been-weaned-off-the-self-aggrandizing/) [R.W.L. Moberly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-w-l-moberly/) > [“I know it's a bit self-aggrandizing." "Hey, you're stealing my eulogy," Isaac said. "My first bit is about how you were a self-aggrandizing bastard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-know-it-s-a-bit-self-aggrandizing-hey-you-re-stealing-my-eulogy/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“We humans give ourselves such airs, even aggrandizing our poky little ‘sins’ to the level of cosmic significance!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-humans-give-ourselves-such-airs-even-aggrandizing-our-poky-little/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Art is by nature promotional, pushing beliefs, broadcasting status, aggrandizing personalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holland-cotter/art-is-by-nature-promotional-pushing-beliefs-broadcasting-status/) [Holland Cotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holland-cotter/) > [It’s lucky no one else knows what our most secret thoughts are. We’d all be seen for the cunning, self-aggrandizing fools we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-s-lucky-no-one-else-knows-what-our-most-secret-thoughts-are-we-d/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [Our society is falling back increasingly on rampant consumerism and self-promoting social media as a way for people to feel that their lives matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-goldstein/our-society-is-falling-back-increasingly-on-rampant-consumerism-and/) [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) > [To say, "It used to be better," nobody can say, "Well, no it wasn't." It's like telling a story that is self-aggrandizing about someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/to-say-it-used-to-be-better-nobody-can-say-well-no-it-wasn-t-it-s/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [What makes me angry is the idea that people would be going to a movie because of what I said about it. It makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/what-makes-me-angry-is-the-idea-that-people-would-be-going-to-a-movie/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [I put out a lot of different kinds of material, and maybe people read that as egotistical. Or maybe, since a lot of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-put-out-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-material-and-maybe-people-read/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I'm not interested in creating a self-aggrandizing home base for myself, for my artistic foibles and interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wanamaker/i-m-not-interested-in-creating-a-self-aggrandizing-home-base-for/) [Sam Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wanamaker/) > [“What Nelson saw driving me arises from a different kind of aspiration: the desire to do for others, to help make things right for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/what-nelson-saw-driving-me-arises-from-a-different-kind-of-aspiration/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [If you think people are inherently good, you get rid of the police for 24 hours - see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/if-you-think-people-are-inherently-good-you-get-rid-of-the-police-for/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Not only do most people accept violence if it is perpetuated by legitimate authority, they also regard violence against certain kinds of people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-friedenberg/not-only-do-most-people-accept-violence-if-it-is-perpetuated-by/) [Edgar Friedenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-friedenberg/) > [I am an optimist, and I believe that people are inherently good and that if you give everyone a voice and freedom of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-am-an-optimist-and-i-believe-that-people-are-inherently-good-and/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) ## More by Park Dietz > [One of the problems with studies that examine the effects of violent imagery is that they typically use mentally healthy psychology students. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/one-of-the-problems-with-studies-that-examine-the-effects-of-violent/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Celebrity stalkers also are not necessarily fixated on one person as the public thinks. Rather, they tend to switch targets, going from, say, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/celebrity-stalkers-also-are-not-necessarily-fixated-on-one-person-as/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Killers seldom meet the legal standard for insanity, which is quite different from the way most people use the word every day. Killers may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/killers-seldom-meet-the-legal-standard-for-insanity-which-is-quite/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [You condition a vulnerable boy at puberty to become aroused by brutality. It's the violence, not the nudity. Frankly, I wouldn't mind if every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/you-condition-a-vulnerable-boy-at-puberty-to-become-aroused-by/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Psychiatrists are usually very well imbued with the clinical role, where helping the sick person is the goal. And that's quite incompatible with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/psychiatrists-are-usually-very-well-imbued-with-the-clinical-role/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Only the individual can decide what level of risk she can tolerate and what level of freedom she's willing to sacrifice for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/only-the-individual-can-decide-what-level-of-risk-she-can-tolerate/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [With rare exceptions, people are responsible for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/with-rare-exceptions-people-are-responsible-for-what-they-do/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Consider surgeons and their work. It's unthinkable to put your hands in the warm blood of another human's gut. Even with rubber gloves on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/consider-surgeons-and-their-work-it-s-unthinkable-to-put-your-hands/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [We've had 20 years of mass murders throughout which I have repeatedly told CNN and our other media, if you don't want to propagate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/we-ve-had-20-years-of-mass-murders-throughout-which-i-have-repeatedly/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [One of the biggest mistakes celebrities make is being overly friendly. They allow photo shoots in their homes, even their bedrooms and bathrooms; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-celebrities-make-is-being-overly-friendly/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Counter to the public's thinking, the celebrities who attract the largest number of stalkers - and typically it's not "if" a celebrity has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/counter-to-the-public-s-thinking-the-celebrities-who-attract-the/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [One of the few times I'm hit emotionally is when I listen to the tapes sadists make of torturing their victims. There the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/one-of-the-few-times-i-m-hit-emotionally-is-when-i-listen-to-the/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [Our job should be like any other forensic scientist's - we should be truth seekers who are not partisan, who do not have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/our-job-should-be-like-any-other-forensic-scientist-s-we-should-be/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [I like to have success experiences rather than failure experiences. So I'm more likely to compete in things I'm good at, and more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-like-to-have-success-experiences-rather-than-failure-experiences-so/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [I do think a lot of sexual violence stems from experiences in childhood or at puberty. Some people become sadistic after suffering early abuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-do-think-a-lot-of-sexual-violence-stems-from-experiences-in/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) [Explore all 16 Park Dietz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) ## More Greedy quotes > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-be-greedy-when-others-are/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It's not that you don't make any money doing conscious rap music. You make a lot of money doing this, but if you're greedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-that-you-don-t-make-any-money-doing-conscious-rap-music-you/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Mostly the greedy rich is responsible for the poor’s poverty!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/mostly-the-greedy-rich-is-responsible-for-the-poor-s-poverty/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I'm not greedy. I just want my half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-m-not-greedy-i-just-want-my-half/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [The moment one starts sharing one's being without any motive life becomes a sweet fragrance. It is all honey. Then everything remains the same,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-moment-one-starts-sharing-one-s-being-without-any-motive-life/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [As much as the next person, I want to be approved of, but I'm not greedy for that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/as-much-as-the-next-person-i-want-to-be-approved-of-but-i-m-not/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [“Greedy is the one who is disappointed when he finds silver in gold mine!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/greedy-is-the-one-who-is-disappointed-when-he-finds-silver-in-gold/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I try to be more mindful and less greedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-dooley/i-try-to-be-more-mindful-and-less-greedy/) [Stacey Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-dooley/) > [Are we like late Rome, infatuated with past glories, ruled by a complacent, greedy elite, and hopelessly powerless to respond to changing conditions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/are-we-like-late-rome-infatuated-with-past-glories-ruled-by-a/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Musically, I want to graduate and become one of the greatest. You can't do that just spitting punchlines. I respect those people who say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/musically-i-want-to-graduate-and-become-one-of-the-greatest-you-can-t/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“..But time can be a greedy thing- sometimes it steals all the details for itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/but-time-can-be-a-greedy-thing-sometimes-it-steals-all-the-details/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) [Browse all 725 Greedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing, pleasureseeking, unempathetic, self-serving, greedy and lustful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Park Dietz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggrandizing-pleasureseeking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Greedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggrandizing-pleasureseeking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/park-dietz-31464_greedy_i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggra_2394614.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing, pleasureseeking, unempathetic, self-serving, greedy and…” — Park Dietz", "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": "Park Dietz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think people are inherently self-aggrandizing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggrandizing-pleasureseeking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-think-people-are-inherently-self-aggrandizing-pleasureseeking/#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 } } ] } ```