--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that as human beings we tend to…" description: "\"I think that as human beings we tend to compartmentalize, and we have a selective morality based on the situation we're in.\" — Richard Gere" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg" --- # I think that as human beings we tend to compartmentalize… ![“I think that as human beings we tend to compartmentalize, and we have a selective morality based on the situation we're in.” quote by Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg) > “I think that as human beings we tend to compartmentalize, and we have a selective morality based on the situation we're in.” [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often adjust their moral judgments based on context, leading to selective ethics rather than universal principles. **In simple terms:** Morals change with situation. Key Takeaway Strive for consistent ethics. Themes morality context hypocrisy Mood introspective critical Type philosophical conversational When to use this quote - business decisions - personal relationships - legal judgments Key Concepts ethical relativism psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you compromised your morals? - Can universal ethics exist? A Different Perspective Consistent morality may be ideal but hard to maintain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Compartmentalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compartmentalize-856496/) [Compartmentalize Selective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compartmentalize-selective-1631316/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-based-662979/) [Selective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selective/) [Selective Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selective-morality-1631315/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [All systems of morality are based on the idea that an action has consequences that legitimize or cancel it. A mind imbued with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/all-systems-of-morality-are-based-on-the-idea-that-an-action-has/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Our morality is based on so many factors: of where we were born, who we were born to, what values were instilled in us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/our-morality-is-based-on-so-many-factors-of-where-we-were-born-who-we/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Morality which is based on ideas, or on an ideal, is an unmitigated evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/morality-which-is-based-on-ideas-or-on-an-ideal-is-an-unmitigated-evil/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [A system of morality that is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception that has nothing sound in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/a-system-of-morality-that-is-based-on-relative-emotional-values-is-a/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I am not advocating a morality based on evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-not-advocating-a-morality-based-on-evolution/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The popular concept–that we should each determine our own morality–is based on the belief that the spiritual realm is nothing at all like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-popular-concept-that-we-should-each-determine-our-own-morality-is/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If you ask anyone, what is morality based on? These are the two factors that always come out: One is reciprocity, … a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-ask-anyone-what-is-morality-based-on-these-are-the-two-factors/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/a-system-of-morality-which-is-based-on-relative-emotional-values-is-a/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“People sometimes say that it is “old-fashioned” to define morality based on the Bible, but nothing is more “old- fashioned” than wanting to define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannah-k-gresh/people-sometimes-say-that-it-is-old-fashioned-to-define-morality/) [Dannah K. Gresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannah-k-gresh/) > [Wherever morality is based on theology, wherever the right is made dependent on divine authority, the most immoral, unjust, infamous things can be justified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/wherever-morality-is-based-on-theology-wherever-the-right-is-made/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“We need a morality based upon love of life, upon pleasure in growth and positive achievement, not upon repression and prohibition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/we-need-a-morality-based-upon-love-of-life-upon-pleasure-in-growth/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I personally would go further and say that, if your morality is based, as mine is, on a desire to increase the sum of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-personally-would-go-further-and-say-that-if-your-morality-is-based/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Anytime you're dealing with moral issues, in a government position, you're dealing with some sticky stuff because everybody's morality is different. So you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/anytime-you-re-dealing-with-moral-issues-in-a-government-position-you/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I love the gallery, the arena of representation. It's a commercial world, and morality is based generally around economics, and that's taking place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/i-love-the-gallery-the-arena-of-representation-it-s-a-commercial/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [“What the new morality resolves itself into is this: You are wrong if you do a thing you do not feel like doing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/what-the-new-morality-resolves-itself-into-is-this-you-are-wrong-if/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by Richard Gere > [Anything that's expanding the mind and heart is happiness. But it's not a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/anything-that-s-expanding-the-mind-and-heart-is-happiness-but-it-s/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [ Julia \[Roberts\]. She's got two kids and animals, and I think she's a night nibbler. There'd be crumbs everywhere. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/julia-roberts-she-s-got-two-kids-and-animals-and-i-think-she-s-a/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meditate. Daily practice is essential to my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-meditate-daily-practice-is-essential-to-my-life/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Things come out of nowhere, and you start evaluating the director, the cast, and all those other things going into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/things-come-out-of-nowhere-and-you-start-evaluating-the-director-the/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I'm a 50 year-old guy and I'm not in shape like I was when I was 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-m-a-50-year-old-guy-and-i-m-not-in-shape-like-i-was-when-i-was-30/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [It's nice to have money, but the first thing I did with money was buy my father a snow-blower, because my job was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/it-s-nice-to-have-money-but-the-first-thing-i-did-with-money-was-buy/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meet human beings who are flawed, who are mentally ill and have enormous problems, but I don't think I've ever met someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-meet-human-beings-who-are-flawed-who-are-mentally-ill-and-have/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Relationships are like sharks. They've got to keep going into deeper, colder water, sometimes scarier, darker territories ... to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/relationships-are-like-sharks-they-ve-got-to-keep-going-into-deeper/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [One of the joys of being an actor is that you're always learning new things. And I've been doing this since I was 19,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/one-of-the-joys-of-being-an-actor-is-that-you-re-always-learning-new/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I think people do want to relate their entertainment to what's going on in their lives. Not everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-people-do-want-to-relate-their-entertainment-to-what-s-going/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I can see the character in a photograph, in the way a guy stands or holds his hands, the way he buckles his belt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-can-see-the-character-in-a-photograph-in-the-way-a-guy-stands-or/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Certainly there have been better actors than me who have had no careers. Why? I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/certainly-there-have-been-better-actors-than-me-who-have-had-no/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/my-first-encounter-with-buddhist-dharma-would-be-in-my-early-20s-like/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [The reality is, we can change. We can change ourselves. We can change our minds. We can change our hearts... and therefore the Universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/the-reality-is-we-can-change-we-can-change-ourselves-we-can-change/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) [Explore all 128 Richard Gere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that as human beings we tend to compartmentalize, and we have a selective morality based on the situation we're in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Gere" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to-compartmentalize-and-we-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to-compartmentalize-and-we-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/richard-gere-3534_character_i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to_2564042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that as human beings we tend to compartmentalize, and we have a selective morality based on the…” — Richard Gere", "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 Gere", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that as human beings...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to-compartmentalize-and-we-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-think-that-as-human-beings-we-tend-to-compartmentalize-and-we-have/#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 } } ] } ```