--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barbarism is the natural state of mankind," description: "\"Barbarism is the natural state of mankind,\" — Robert E. Howard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/robert-e-howard-3742_barbarism_barbarism-is-the-natural-state-of-mankin_1255232.jpg" --- # Barbarism is the natural state of mankind, ![“Barbarism is the natural state of mankind,” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/robert-e-howard-3742_barbarism_barbarism-is-the-natural-state-of-mankin_1255232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/robert-e-howard-3742_barbarism_barbarism-is-the-natural-state-of-mankin_1255232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/655/robert-e-howard-3742_barbarism_barbarism-is-the-natural-state-of-mankin_1255232.jpg) > “Barbarism is the natural state of mankind,” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is inherently barbaric, suggesting civilization is a thin veneer over primal instincts. **In simple terms:** Humans are naturally barbaric. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper primal impulses. Themes human nature civilization violence philosophy Mood serious reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - conflict zones - political unrest - personal anger management - competitive sports Key Concepts psychology social contract ethical theory Questions to Reflect On - What structures help maintain order? - How do we balance instinct and reason? A Different Perspective Civilization can suppress but not eliminate barbarism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barbarism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbarism/) [Barbarism Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbarism-natural-3971554/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-state/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [State Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-mankind-1118919/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [“Barbarism is the natural state of mankind," the borderer said, still staring somberly at the Cimmerian. "Civilization is unnatural. It is a whim of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/barbarism-is-the-natural-state-of-mankind-the-borderer-said-still/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [The natural state of mankind ... and I know that this is a controversial idea... is freedom... And the proof is the lengths to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-natural-state-of-mankind-and-i-know-that-this-is-a-controversial/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Happiness is not the natural state of mankind, and is never achieved from the outside in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/happiness-is-not-the-natural-state-of-mankind-and-is-never-achieved/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“And my commander always says, when we go about our business in the city, that when you look at the state of mankind you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-my-commander-always-says-when-we-go-about-our-business-in-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A lot of us don't want to be quite that serious about world problems. Our life is there to enjoy, not to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheckley/a-lot-of-us-don-t-want-to-be-quite-that-serious-about-world-problems/) [Robert Sheckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheckley/) > [The state mankind are in today, is the direct inheritance of the fruits from the 'Tree of Knowledge' of Good and Evil; EGO! And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/the-state-mankind-are-in-today-is-the-direct-inheritance-of-the/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [The State is made for Mankind, not mankind for the state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-state-is-made-for-mankind-not-mankind-for-the-state/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“The invisible people knew that happiness is not the natural state of mankind, and is never achieved from the outside in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-invisible-people-knew-that-happiness-is-not-the-natural-state-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The most desirable state of mankind is that which maintains general security with the smallest encroachment upon individual independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-that-which-maintains-general/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Frightened is the natural state for all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/frightened-is-the-natural-state-for-all-men/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/restoring-nature-to-its-natural-state-is-a-cause-beyond-party-and/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I want to be in a more natural state while doing acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armaan-malik/i-want-to-be-in-a-more-natural-state-while-doing-acting/) [Armaan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armaan-malik/) > [“The state of civil society, which necessarily generates this aristocracy, is a state of nature; and much more truly so than a savage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-state-of-civil-society-which-necessarily-generates-this/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no life in the Abyss, save that which was incorporated in me," it tolled. "Nor was there light, nor motion, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-life-in-the-abyss-save-that-which-was-incorporated-in-me/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/that-s-the-way-with-civilized-men-when-they-can-t-explain-something/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, & am content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-live-i-burn-with-life-i-love-i-slay-am-content/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Coming, as I do, from mountain folk on one side and sea followers on the other, there are few old songs of the hills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/coming-as-i-do-from-mountain-folk-on-one-side-and-sea-followers-on/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“A true fanatic, his promptings were reasons enough for his actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/a-true-fanatic-his-promptings-were-reasons-enough-for-his-actions/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## More Barbarism quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“Odd, don't you think? I have seen war, and invasions and riots. I have heard of massacres and brutalities beyond imagining, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/odd-don-t-you-think-i-have-seen-war-and-invasions-and-riots-i-have/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [Christianity has carried civilization along with it, whithersoever it has gone; and, as if to show that the latter does not depend on physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/christianity-has-carried-civilization-along-with-it-whithersoever-it/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [ \[Much\] as war attracts me and fascinates my mind with its tremendous situations, I feel more deeply every year . . . what vile… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/much-as-war-attracts-me-and-fascinates-my-mind-with-its-tremendous/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations. Man's capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/educational-exchange-can-turn-nations-into-people-contributing-as-no/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/) [Edward Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bellamy/) > [You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/you-think-that-a-wall-as-solid-as-the-earth-separates-civilization/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/barbarism-is-the-absence-of-standards-to-which-appeal-can-be-made/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [“The language of sword is less powerful than the language of word, but most of the people understand the language of sword with greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/the-language-of-sword-is-less-powerful-than-the-language-of-word-but/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [There is so much that must be done in a civilized barbarism like war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/there-is-so-much-that-must-be-done-in-a-civilized-barbarism-like-war/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [There is a barbarism in the American soul, and we must protect some of it by law. To root it out is to endanger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/there-is-a-barbarism-in-the-american-soul-and-we-must-protect-some-of/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [In discussing Barbarism and Christianity I have actually been discussing the Fall of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-discussing-barbarism-and-christianity-i-have-actually-been/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [What we now want is closer contact and better understanding between individuals and communities all over the earth, and the elimination of egoism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/what-we-now-want-is-closer-contact-and-better-understanding-between/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [“Magic begins in superstition, and ends in science. ... At every step the history of civilization teaches us how slight and superficial a structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/magic-begins-in-superstition-and-ends-in-science-at-every-step-the/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) [Browse all 238 Barbarism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbarism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barbarism is the natural state of mankind,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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