--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am as dispassionate as it is possible…" description: "\"I am as dispassionate as it is possible for a human being to be and not be a machine.\" — Richard Burton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg" --- # I am as dispassionate as it is possible for a human being… ![“I am as dispassionate as it is possible for a human being to be and not be a machine.” quote by Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg) > “I am as dispassionate as it is possible for a human being to be and not be a machine.” [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human dispassion is possible without becoming mechanical; it’s a balance of rational detachment and humanity. **In simple terms:** One can be rational yet remain human. Key Takeaway Cultivate calm rationality while preserving humanity. Themes philosophy human nature detachment emotion identity Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stress management - conflict resolution - ethical decision‑making - creative work Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When does rational detachment become harmful? - How to stay humane while remaining objective? A Different Perspective Excessive detachment may lead to coldness or lack of empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-being/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [A human being is not a machine. Especially when it comes to creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azzedine-alaia/a-human-being-is-not-a-machine-especially-when-it-comes-to-creating/) [Azzedine Alaia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azzedine-alaia/) > [I don't know if you have noticed this, but it is quite possible for two human beings to have a conversation in which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-don-t-know-if-you-have-noticed-this-but-it-is-quite-possible-for/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Stories make it possible for us to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-taylor/stories-make-it-possible-for-us-to-be-human/) [Daniel Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-taylor/) > [All things are possible, once enough human beings realize that everything is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-things-are-possible-once-enough-human-beings-realize-that/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Is world peace possible or is the human race too innately aggressive? For instance: Have you ever seen women at a sample sale?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-world-peace-possible-or-is-the-human-race-too-innately-aggressive/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Peace is something that we can bring about if we can actually learn to wake up a bit more as individuals and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/peace-is-something-that-we-can-bring-about-if-we-can-actually-learn/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [“But it seemed I had fallen for a human—and not just any human, the worst possible human out of all seven billion possibilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-greenwood-brown/but-it-seemed-i-had-fallen-for-a-human-and-not-just-any-human-the/) [Anne Greenwood Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-greenwood-brown/) > [There is no end to the opening up that is possible for a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joko-beck/there-is-no-end-to-the-opening-up-that-is-possible-for-a-human-being/) [Joko Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joko-beck/) > [It is possible for every human being to be blissful, if you are willing to pay a little attention to how this human mechanism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/it-is-possible-for-every-human-being-to-be-blissful-if-you-are/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [“Be on as few pieces of paper as it is possible for a human being to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/be-on-as-few-pieces-of-paper-as-it-is-possible-for-a-human-being-to-be/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [It is possible for the human spirit to win after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/it-is-possible-for-the-human-spirit-to-win-after-all/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The myth is that it is possible for one human being to educate another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/the-myth-is-that-it-is-possible-for-one-human-being-to-educate-another/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [“It's always possible for human beings to spoil their own peace of mind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/it-s-always-possible-for-human-beings-to-spoil-their-own-peace-of-mind/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Is it possible for the human mind to conceive of a more horrible state of society?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/is-it-possible-for-the-human-mind-to-conceive-of-a-more-horrible/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [It is primarily through the growth of science and technology that man has acquired those attributes which distinguish him from the animals, which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-compton/it-is-primarily-through-the-growth-of-science-and-technology-that-man/) [Arthur Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-compton/) ## More by Richard Burton > [My sister Edith died at the age of 43. She was the youngest sister and the funniest. I had to harrumph and snort a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/my-sister-edith-died-at-the-age-of-43-she-was-the-youngest-sister-and/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [Warren Beatty seems very self-conscious and actory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/warren-beatty-seems-very-self-conscious-and-actory/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [A man that hoards up riches and enjoys them not, is like an ass that carries gold and eats thistles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/a-man-that-hoards-up-riches-and-enjoys-them-not-is-like-an-ass-that/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [The only nice poets I've ever met were bad poets, and a bad poet is not a poet at all - ergo, I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/the-only-nice-poets-i-ve-ever-met-were-bad-poets-and-a-bad-poet-is/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [If I had a chance for another life, I would certainly choose a better complexion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/if-i-had-a-chance-for-another-life-i-would-certainly-choose-a-better/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [You reach the top of the heap, but it's a circle, and you slip on the down side, maybe for years. You get scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/you-reach-the-top-of-the-heap-but-it-s-a-circle-and-you-slip-on-the/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [I grew up among heroes who went down the pit, who played rugby, told stories, sang songs of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/i-grew-up-among-heroes-who-went-down-the-pit-who-played-rugby-told/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [What an extraordinary world it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/what-an-extraordinary-world-it-is/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [One of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/one-of-the-gladdest-moments-of-human-life-methinks-is-the-departure/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [I'm so weak at saying no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/i-m-so-weak-at-saying-no/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [Sometimes I am so much my father's son that I give myself occasional creeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/sometimes-i-am-so-much-my-father-s-son-that-i-give-myself-occasional/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [How do you live with one person for 13 years and another for eight and find both as alien as strangers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/how-do-you-live-with-one-person-for-13-years-and-another-for-eight/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [They lard their lean books with the fat of others work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/they-lard-their-lean-books-with-the-fat-of-others-work/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [How strange are the tricks of memory, which, often hazy as a dream about the most important events of a man's life, religiously preserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/how-strange-are-the-tricks-of-memory-which-often-hazy-as-a-dream/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [“Man remembers and combines but does not create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/man-remembers-and-combines-but-does-not-create/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) [Explore all 51 Richard Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am as dispassionate as it is possible for a human being to be and not be a machine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Burton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible-for-a-human-being-to-be-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Am" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible-for-a-human-being-to-be-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/richard-burton-13165_am_i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible_586994.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am as dispassionate as it is possible for a human being to be and not be a machine.” — Richard Burton", "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": "Richard Burton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am as dispassionate as it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible-for-a-human-being-to-be-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/i-am-as-dispassionate-as-it-is-possible-for-a-human-being-to-be-and/#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 } } ] } ```