--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But here's the most incredible thing…" description: "\"“But here's the most incredible thing about it: the philosopher isn't proposing that as a concept; he's simply articulating what humans believe about t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sabina-berman-68495_existence_but-here-s-the-most-incredible-thing-abo_3211510.jpg" --- # But here's the most incredible thing about it: the… ![“But here's the most incredible thing about it: the philosopher isn't proposing that as a concept; he's simply articulating what humans believe about themselves. That first they thing and therefore then they exist. What follows on from that is even worse: that since humans live that way, thinking…” quote by Sabina Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sabina-berman-68495_existence_but-here-s-the-most-incredible-thing-abo_3211510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sabina-berman-68495_existence_but-here-s-the-most-incredible-thing-abo_3211510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/faf/sabina-berman-68495_existence_but-here-s-the-most-incredible-thing-abo_3211510.jpg) > ““But here's the most incredible thing about it: the philosopher isn't proposing that as a concept; he's simply articulating what humans believe about themselves. That first they thing and therefore then they exist. What follows on from that is even worse: that since humans live that way, thinking that first they thing and then they exist, they also think that anything that doesn't think, also doesn't fully exist. Trees, the sea, the fish in the sea, the sun, the moon, a hill or a whole mountain range. None of that exists all the way; it exists on a second plane of existence, a lesser existence. Therefore, it deserves to be merchandise or food or background for humans and nothing more.”” Sabina Berman ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques anthropocentric thinking that places human consciousness as the benchmark of existence, relegating non‑thinking nature to a lesser status. **In simple terms:** It argues humans see themselves as the measure of existence, marginalizing nature. Key Takeaway Recognize all life as having intrinsic value beyond human use. Themes anthropocentrism existence environmental ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - environmental policy - education - personal reflection - activism Key Concepts philosophy human exceptionalism ecocentrism Questions to Reflect On - How do you value non‑human entities in your daily life? - What would change if we saw nature as equally existent? A Different Perspective It oversimplifies complex metaphysical debates and may ignore cultural perspectives on nature. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/there-is-only-one-thing-a-philosopher-can-be-relied-upon-to-do-and/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“I may pronounce the toughest thing in which you take part is:- A Philosopher's Love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yash-thakur/i-may-pronounce-the-toughest-thing-in-which-you-take-part-is-a/) [Yash Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yash-thakur/) > [My thought is me: that is why I cannot stop thinking. I exist because I think I cannot keep from thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/my-thought-is-me-that-is-why-i-cannot-stop-thinking-i-exist-because-i/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [You can only exist as far as your mind will allow you to exist, and I think chronic pain will stop time dead in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/you-can-only-exist-as-far-as-your-mind-will-allow-you-to-exist-and-i/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [My thought is me: that's why I can't stop. I exist because I think… and I can't stop myself from thinking. At this very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/my-thought-is-me-that-s-why-i-can-t-stop-i-exist-because-i-think-and-2/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The visuals and the audio, could stand by themselves in a way. But the whole idea of the thing, is that they would exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panda-bear/the-visuals-and-the-audio-could-stand-by-themselves-in-a-way-but-the/) [Panda Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panda-bear/) > [I am. I am, I exist, I think, therefore I am; I am because I think, why do I think? I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-am-i-am-i-exist-i-think-therefore-i-am-i-am-because-i-think-why-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [My opinion is that prostitution always existed and will always exist. So I think it's worth trying to give these women the best working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-bonello/my-opinion-is-that-prostitution-always-existed-and-will-always-exist/) Bertrand Bonello > [“Sometimes I wake at night and worry that I might have disappeared in my sleep. That's what happens when nobody cares about you. Bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/sometimes-i-wake-at-night-and-worry-that-i-might-have-disappeared-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [Think about how rare it is that you exist at all. Also think about time this way: If something exists, even for a second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/think-about-how-rare-it-is-that-you-exist-at-all-also-think-about/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [“If heaven and hell exist, I think they're on Earth. Death probably looks very different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaisa-winter/if-heaven-and-hell-exist-i-think-they-re-on-earth-death-probably/) [Kaisa Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaisa-winter/) > [I'm sure that inside your heart you're trying with all your might to find it on your own... the reason you were born. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/i-m-sure-that-inside-your-heart-you-re-trying-with-all-your-might-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Cause Jesus I do think did exist, and he was, I think, a guy who had interesting ideas in the Gandhi-type area, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/cause-jesus-i-do-think-did-exist-and-he-was-i-think-a-guy-who-had/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“You do not exist. I think I exist. I am conscious of my own identity. I was born, and I shall die. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/you-do-not-exist-i-think-i-exist-i-am-conscious-of-my-own-identity-i/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [How can I go on living like you don't exist when your all I think about .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy/how-can-i-go-on-living-like-you-don-t-exist-when-your-all-i-think/) [Daisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy/) ## More by Sabina Berman > [“And what makes humans so sure that thinking is the most important activity in the universe?...I on the contrary have never forgotten that first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabina-berman/and-what-makes-humans-so-sure-that-thinking-is-the-most-important/) Sabina Berman > [“Mexico has made a mistake. Alone, it fights a war against a global phenomenon that only matters to a few. That makes the headlines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabina-berman/mexico-has-made-a-mistake-alone-it-fights-a-war-against-a-global/) Sabina Berman Explore all 3 Sabina Berman quotes ## More Existence quotes > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/universities-are-the-cathedrals-of-the-modern-age-they-shouldn-t-have/) [David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 7,646 Existence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But here's the most incredible thing about it: the philosopher isn't proposing that as a concept; he's simply articulating what humans believe about themselves. That first they thing and therefore then they exist. 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