--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we accept that there will always be…" description: "\"“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust essentialism. Keep in min..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_mean-people_if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-s_50665.png" --- # If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a… ![“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust essentialism. Keep in mind that what seems like rationality is often just rationalization, playing catch-up with subterranean forces that we never suspect. Focus on the…” quote by Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_mean-people_if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-s_50665.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_mean-people_if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-s_50665.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e19/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_mean-people_if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-s_50665.png) > ““If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust essentialism. Keep in mind that what seems like rationality is often just rationalization, playing catch-up with subterranean forces that we never suspect. Focus on the larger, shared goals. Practice perspective taking. Individuate, individuate, individuate. Recall the historical lessons of how often the truly malignant Thems keep themselves hidden and make third parties the fall guy. And in the meantime, give the right-of-way to people driving cars with the “Mean people suck” bumper sticker, and remind everyone that we’re all in it together against Lord Voldemort and the House Slytherin.”” [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages vigilance against binary thinking, urging empathy, critical awareness of hidden biases, and collective focus on shared goals rather than simplistic moral labeling. **In simple terms:** Beware of easy moral binaries; seek nuance and shared purpose. Key Takeaway Perspective, vigilance, collective action. Themes critical thinking empathy social dynamics bias awareness collective responsibility Mood reflective cautious determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political discourse - workplace conflict - community organizing - social media debates - policy formation Key Concepts rationalization hidden malignancy individual autonomy group cohesion Practical Applications - design inclusive decision‑making frameworks - train teams in perspective‑taking exercises Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance moral clarity with nuanced understanding? - What practices help us detect hidden biases in group dynamics? A Different Perspective Some may argue that emphasizing 'angelic' sides can obscure legitimate critique of power structures, leading to moral complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-sides-723165/) [Distrust Essentialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrust-essentialism-723164/) [Like Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-rationality-723167/) [Mean people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-people/) [People suck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-suck/) [Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality/) [Rationality Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality-just-723166/) ## Related quotes > [“You have to accept all sides of yourself – there’s no point fighting them – just learn how to handle them, and return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/you-have-to-accept-all-sides-of-yourself-there-s-no-point-fighting/) [Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/) > [“The search for a new type of rationality became just another form of antirationalism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heath/the-search-for-a-new-type-of-rationality-became-just-another-form-of/) [Joseph Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heath/) > [Rationality is not just something you do so that you can make more money, it is a binding principle. Rationality is a really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/rationality-is-not-just-something-you-do-so-that-you-can-make-more/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Mean people suck - Nice people swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mean-people-suck-nice-people-swallow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mean people suck, come over here and show me how mean you can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mean-people-suck-come-over-here-and-show-me-how-mean-you-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sitting on my stool I thought of a bumper sticker: "If Mean People Suck, Why Isn't My Dick In Your Mouth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/sitting-on-my-stool-i-thought-of-a-bumper-sticker-if-mean-people-suck/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Mean people suck”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/mean-people-suck/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [They don't love me they only know me When they need me... mean people suck.. XD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-don-t-love-me-they-only-know-me-when-they-need-me-mean-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Mean People Suck!” And that goes especially for people who are mean in the name of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/mean-people-suck-and-that-goes-especially-for-people-who-are-mean-in/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [FACTS Fact #1 Mean people suck. Fact #2 Bad things happen to good people. Fact #3 Good doesn’t always prevail over evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/facts-fact-1-mean-people-suck-fact-2-bad-things-happen-to-good-people/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [“Many people who experienced love their whole lives, in childhood and all throughout, do not know the worth of being loved as adults. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/many-people-who-experienced-love-their-whole-lives-in-childhood-and/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“DOSTIE: Let's be honest here. People? Sometimes they suck. But kids, well, they're like a new snowfall, you know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-depiano/dostie-let-s-be-honest-here-people-sometimes-they-suck-but-kids-well/) [Hillary DePiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-depiano/) > [I'm starting to understand why librarians end up single and living alone with a cat. Cause people suck a big one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-starting-to-understand-why-librarians-end-up-single-and-living/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Weather sucks, people suck, Monday suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/weather-sucks-people-suck-monday-suck/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Drunk people suck when they're not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drunk-people-suck-when-they-re-not-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert M. Sapolsky > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Finally, for the same criminal conviction, the more stereotypically Af-rican a black individual’s facial features, the longer the sentence.15 In contrast, juries view black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/finally-for-the-same-criminal-conviction-the-more-stereotypically-af/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“So testosterone does subtle things to behavior. Nonetheless, this doesn’t tell us much because everything can be interpreted every which way. Testosterone increases anxiety—you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/so-testosterone-does-subtle-things-to-behavior-nonetheless-this-doesn/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“pain makes aggressive people more aggressive, while doing the opposite to unaggressive individuals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/pain-makes-aggressive-people-more-aggressive-while-doing-the-opposite/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Thus, for our purposes, genes aren’t about inevitability. Instead they’re about context-dependent tendencies, propensities, potentials, and vulnerabilities. All embedded in the fabric of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/thus-for-our-purposes-genes-aren-t-about-inevitability-instead-they/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“In other words, the more genomically complex the organism, the larger the percentage of the genome devoted to gene regulation by the environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-other-words-the-more-genomically-complex-the-organism-the-larger/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The subject of one experiment is a rat that receives mild electric shocks (roughly equivalent to the static shock you might get from scuffing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-subject-of-one-experiment-is-a-rat-that-receives-mild-electric/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“No brain region is an island, and the formation of circuits connecting far-flung brain regions is crucial—how else can the frontal cortex use its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/no-brain-region-is-an-island-and-the-formation-of-circuits-connecting/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“One stretch of the gene is repeated a variable number of times, and the version with seven repeats (the “7R” form) produces a receptor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/one-stretch-of-the-gene-is-repeated-a-variable-number-of-times-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“some people always get more than their share of equality than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/some-people-always-get-more-than-their-share-of-equality-than-others/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Work by Martha Farah of the University of Pennsylvania, Tom Boyce of UCSF, and others demonstrates something outrageous: By age five, the lower a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/work-by-martha-farah-of-the-university-of-pennsylvania-tom-boyce-of/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Explore all 280 Robert M. Sapolsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More Mean people quotes > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [No one notice your pains, but they all notice your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/no-one-notice-your-pains-but-they-all-notice-your-mistakes/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [There are all sorts of topics and themes that just recur time and time again, which either means people have less imagination or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-henry/there-are-all-sorts-of-topics-and-themes-that-just-recur-time-and/) [Buck Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-henry/) > [“Just because your life sucks doesn’t mean other people cant be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-borris/just-because-your-life-sucks-doesn-t-mean-other-people-cant-be-happy/) [Albert Borris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-borris/) > [I think it's a very central tenet to it yes, it is. I can't bear it, I can't bear inequality, I can't bear bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-suzman/i-think-it-s-a-very-central-tenet-to-it-yes-it-is-i-can-t-bear-it-i/) [Janet Suzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-suzman/) > [Release what no longer serves you to create a space for that which does. And yes, sometimes this even means people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-gage/release-what-no-longer-serves-you-to-create-a-space-for-that-which/) [Randy Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-gage/) > [Mean people are no fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-filicia/mean-people-are-no-fun/) [Thom Filicia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-filicia/) > [“You can be bit in the leg by a rattlesnake and seek help to heal your wound, or you can run after it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-be-bit-in-the-leg-by-a-rattlesnake-and-seek-help-to-heal-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [It's the hardest thing on earth to like yourself, and then when you do, it's a catastrophe. I mean, the people I know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/it-s-the-hardest-thing-on-earth-to-like-yourself-and-then-when-you-do/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [I don't even know what that means. People who get credit have to get it from somewhere. Does a credit bubble mean that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-fama/i-don-t-even-know-what-that-means-people-who-get-credit-have-to-get/) [Eugene Fama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-fama/) > [“Why are some people mean and some people nice?" "I don't rightly know...But my job is to teach all of you to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-m-draper/why-are-some-people-mean-and-some-people-nice-i-don-t-rightly-know/) [Sharon M. Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-m-draper/) > [“I can't protect you from mean people, because they're everywhere, but I would be nice. That much, I can promise." "Fine," she said. "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ivory/i-can-t-protect-you-from-mean-people-because-they-re-everywhere-but-i/) [Judith Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ivory/) > [I just felt like, "Why would you discuss my body as if it's an object?" People will come up and say things like, "Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-just-felt-like-why-would-you-discuss-my-body-as-if-it-s-an-object/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [It takes time for the dust to settle. And by dust, I mean people clouding your mind by giving wrong information and your expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-chatterjee/it-takes-time-for-the-dust-to-settle-and-by-dust-i-mean-people/) [Priyanshu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-chatterjee/) [Browse all 324 Mean people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust essentialism. 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