---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The human psyche has two great…"
description: "\"The human psyche has two great sicknesses: the urge to carry vendetta across generations, and the tendency to fasten group labels on people rather than..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-dawkins-115_blind_the-human-psyche-has-two-great-sicknesse_2522495.jpg"
---

#  The human psyche has two great sicknesses: the urge to…

![“The human psyche has two great sicknesses: the urge to carry vendetta across generations, and the tendency to fasten group labels on people rather than see them as individuals. Abrahamic religion gives strong sanction to both-and mixes explosively with both. Only the willfully blind could fail to…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-dawkins-115_blind_the-human-psyche-has-two-great-sicknesse_2522495.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-dawkins-115_blind_the-human-psyche-has-two-great-sicknesse_2522495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-dawkins-115_blind_the-human-psyche-has-two-great-sicknesse_2522495.jpg)

> “The human psyche has two great sicknesses: the urge to carry vendetta across generations, and the tendency to fasten group labels on people rather than see them as individuals. Abrahamic religion gives strong sanction to both-and mixes explosively with both. Only the willfully blind could fail to implicate the divisive force of religion in most, if not all, of the violent enmities in the world today.”

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human conflict stems from inherited vendettas and group labeling; Abrahamic religions amplify these tendencies, fueling violence.

**In simple terms:** Religion fuels inherited grudges and group labeling, causing conflict.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge divisive religious narratives.

Themes

religion psychology conflict history human nature

Mood

reflective concerned hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- interfaith dialogue
- education reform
- peacebuilding
- policy making

Key Concepts

social identity intergenerational trauma group dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies reduce inherited vendettas?
- What role can secular ethics play in mitigating group labeling?

A Different Perspective

Not all religious traditions equally promote violence; secular ideologies can also incite conflict.

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[Abrahamic Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abrahamic-religion-358008/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Enmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enmity/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Human psyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-psyche/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individuals Abrahamic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-abrahamic-1265849/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-violent-1265848/) [Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges/) [Vendetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vendetta/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) [Violent Enmities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent-enmities-1265850/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-today/)

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