About Quote by Sam Harris
“The moment we realize that the only things we can intelligibly value are actual and potential changes in the experience of conscious beings, we can think about a landscape of such changes - where the peaks correspond to the greatest possible well-being and the valleys correspond to the lowest depths of suffering.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris, 2010
Well‑being is measured by changes in conscious experience; maximizing positive changes and minimizing suffering defines moral progress.
In simple terms: Well‑being is about improving conscious experience.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize actions that lift consciousness.
Themes
ethics
well‑being
consciousness
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
ethical
scientific
When to use this quote
- policy making
- healthcare
- education
- personal development
Key Concepts
utilitarianism
psychology
neuroscience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assess true well‑being?
- What policies best reduce suffering?
A Different Perspective
Quantifying experience is complex and subjective.
![“In life, every experience of a peak always follows the experience of a valley and we go back and forth between them. […] Until you understand that both the peaks and the valleys are inevitable and will eventually pass, and you disidentify from both sides, you will miss seeing your unmoving center…” quote by Eliza Mada Dalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a32/eliza-mada-dalian-49488_consciousness_in-life-every-experience-of-a-peak-alway_2055953.jpg)
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
