--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why did things have to be so complicated…" description: "\"“Why did things have to be so complicated with human beings?...Yet if we were not what we were, creatures with at least the awareness of purpose and ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/piers-anthony-8252_beings_why-did-things-have-to-be-so-complicated_2755969.jpg" --- # Why did things have to be so complicated with human… ![“Why did things have to be so complicated with human beings?...Yet if we were not what we were, creatures with at least the awareness of purpose and honor, what would we be? Empty knights in armor, seeming so strong on the outside, yet hollow inside?” quote by Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/piers-anthony-8252_beings_why-did-things-have-to-be-so-complicated_2755969.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/piers-anthony-8252_beings_why-did-things-have-to-be-so-complicated_2755969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/piers-anthony-8252_beings_why-did-things-have-to-be-so-complicated_2755969.jpg) > ““Why did things have to be so complicated with human beings?...Yet if we were not what we were, creatures with at least the awareness of purpose and honor, what would we be? Empty knights in armor, seeming so strong on the outside, yet hollow inside?”” [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human complexity arises from purpose and honor; without them, we become empty shells despite outward strength. **In simple terms:** Purpose gives depth; without it we are hollow. Key Takeaway Cultivate purpose and honor. Themes identity purpose honor human nature Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - personal growth - team dynamics Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life purpose? - How do you avoid becoming a hollow “knight”? A Different Perspective Even with purpose, people can still feel hollow if actions are misaligned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings/) [Beings Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-creatures-2218769/) [Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated/) [Complicated Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complicated-human-937903/) [Things Complicated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-complicated/) ## Related quotes > [Human beings are the only creatures on earth that claim a God and the only thing that behaves like it hasn't got one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-on-earth-that-claim-a-god-and-the/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Human beings are the only creatures on the planet that tell time and think they have to earn a living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-on-the-planet-that-tell-time-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With all the main characters that I write, it's always very important to me that they have good and bad aspects of their personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/with-all-the-main-characters-that-i-write-it-s-always-very-important/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [We share the earth not only with our fellow human beings, but with all the other creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-share-the-earth-not-only-with-our-fellow-human-beings-but-with-all/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Human beings are the only creatures that allow their children to come back home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-that-allow-their-children-to-come/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [The literary story is a story that deals with the complicated human heart with an honest tolerance for the ambiguity in which we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-carlson/the-literary-story-is-a-story-that-deals-with-the-complicated-human/) [Ron Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-carlson/) > [Human beings are the only creatures who blush - or who need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-who-blush-or-who-need-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think women are very complicated human beings, and I think there's an oversimplification of women when you see them on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-women-are-very-complicated-human-beings-and-i-think-there-s/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [After all, we are human beings, and not creatures of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/after-all-we-are-human-beings-and-not-creatures-of-infinite/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [ This film \[Teknolust\] in particular, showing the way in which having a sexual dialogue with someone can be something developing and changeable and maybe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/this-film-teknolust-in-particular-showing-the-way-in-which-having-a/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [Human beings are the only creatures on this earth, who knows how many times that despite falling again'n again to stand again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-on-this-earth-who-knows-how-many/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Billions of years ago, you were a big bang, but now you're a complicated human being. And then we cut ourselves off, and don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/billions-of-years-ago-you-were-a-big-bang-but-now-you-re-a/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“complicated human behavior was increasingly getting labeled a mental disorder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/complicated-human-behavior-was-increasingly-getting-labeled-a-mental/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Actors are exposed in a way that nobody else can understand. They are subject to the likes and dislikes of people their entire life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/actors-are-exposed-in-a-way-that-nobody-else-can-understand-they-are/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Human beings are the only creatures on Earth that claim a god and the only living thing that behaves like it hasn't got one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rum-diaries/human-beings-are-the-only-creatures-on-earth-that-claim-a-god-and-the-2/) [The Rum Diaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-rum-diaries/) ## More by Piers Anthony > [“At first I was exhilarated by my freedom from the responsibility of the kingship. This lasted about seven minutes. I was also depressed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/at-first-i-was-exhilarated-by-my-freedom-from-the-responsibility-of/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [I did not know at first that it would be a series; I discovered after the first novel that I had more to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/i-did-not-know-at-first-that-it-would-be-a-series-i-discovered-after/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [For our stories are not yet finished, and perhaps will never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/for-our-stories-are-not-yet-finished-and-perhaps-will-never-be/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [I hope to read a Harry Potter novel soon, to see what it's all about. I admit to being annoyed that many good light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/i-hope-to-read-a-harry-potter-novel-soon-to-see-what-it-s-all-about-i/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [“I have, as may be apparent, not much respect for editors as a class.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/i-have-as-may-be-apparent-not-much-respect-for-editors-as-a-class/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Obviously it could be, because it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/obviously-it-could-be-because-it-was/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Princess Rose should indeed be a TV movie, assuming something doesn't go wrong. I don't know how good a movie it will be, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/princess-rose-should-indeed-be-a-tv-movie-assuming-something-doesn-t/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Have a working spouse, because you won't earn a living from writing - not at first, if ever. My wife worked for years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/have-a-working-spouse-because-you-won-t-earn-a-living-from-writing/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Being terrified but going ahead and doing what must be done—that's courage. The one who feels no fear is a fool, and the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/being-terrified-but-going-ahead-and-doing-what-must-be-done-that-s/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Happy children do not seem to grow up to be writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/happy-children-do-not-seem-to-grow-up-to-be-writers/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [I maintain an ongoing survey of Internet Publishing and self publishing, so that it is now possible for any writer with a book to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/i-maintain-an-ongoing-survey-of-internet-publishing-and-self/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [One thing you who had secure or happy childhoods should understand about those of us who did not. We who control our feelings, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/one-thing-you-who-had-secure-or-happy-childhoods-should-understand/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Barbarian --A Code of Conduct honored by all true barbarian warriors, requiring excellent coordination with weapons, closeness to nature, awkwardness with women, common sense,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/barbarian-a-code-of-conduct-honored-by-all-true-barbarian-warriors/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [But one must go where one's road leads, even when it's a distressing road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/but-one-must-go-where-one-s-road-leads-even-when-it-s-a-distressing/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [“What is life, except an ongoing instinct for survival? Nature uses that instinct to make us perform; otherwise we would all relax, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/what-is-life-except-an-ongoing-instinct-for-survival-nature-uses-that/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) [Explore all 82 Piers Anthony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) ## More Beings quotes > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanns-eisler/a-composer-knows-that-music-is-written-by-human-beings-for-human/) [Hanns Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanns-eisler/) > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I'm a humanist at heart: at the end of the day, we are all human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-m-a-humanist-at-heart-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-are-all-human-beings/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [My intended audience was everybody. I just want to make cartoons for human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/my-intended-audience-was-everybody-i-just-want-to-make-cartoons-for/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [Everyone else on the planet, from the lowest amoebae to the great blue whale, expresses all their component elements in a perfect dance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lore/everyone-else-on-the-planet-from-the-lowest-amoebae-to-the-great-blue/) [Nicholas Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lore/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [As human beings, we aren't as individual as we'd like to believe we are. And I think that's what makes acting possible. Despite the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-human-beings-we-aren-t-as-individual-as-we-d-like-to-believe-we/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [We cannot deal with people like human beings, we cannot deal with them on the high level of true humanity, unless we really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-cannot-deal-with-people-like-human-beings-we-cannot-deal-with-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Spiritual beings, either from the beginning or soon thereafter, become what they are to be for ever and ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/spiritual-beings-either-from-the-beginning-or-soon-thereafter-become/) [Giovanni Pico della Mirandola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/) > [We're human beings trying to love each other. There are constant revelations and room for growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamman-rucker/we-re-human-beings-trying-to-love-each-other-there-are-constant/) [Lamman Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamman-rucker/) > [“There are no greater or truer lords, gods, fathers, sons or holy spirits, than the humans. Humans are the highest beings on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-no-greater-or-truer-lords-gods-fathers-sons-or-holy-spirits/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/although-we-might-settle-for-less-heavenly-father-won-t-for-he-sees/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) [Browse all 979 Beings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why did things have to be so complicated with human beings?...Yet if we were not what we were, creatures with at least the awareness of purpose and honor, what would we be? 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