--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poor humanity!--so dependent, so…" description: "\"Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and yet so great.\" — Sophie Swetchine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png" --- # Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and yet so… ![“Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and yet so great.” quote by Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png) > “Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and yet so great.” [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity is paradoxically fragile and powerful, highlighting both dependence and potential for greatness. **In simple terms:** People are weak yet capable of greatness. Key Takeaway Recognize both limits and strengths. Themes human nature paradox dependence greatness Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - social movements - personal growth - leadership - crisis response Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - In what ways do we limit ourselves? - How can we harness our collective strength? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on frailty can undermine agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent/) [Dependent Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent-insignificant-3192350/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-dependent-305201/) [Insignificant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant/) [Insignificant Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant-great-426208/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-humanity-1138508/) ## Related quotes > [Am I foolish and insignificant or am I great? I gave all the individuals in the world cause to kneel down in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/am-i-foolish-and-insignificant-or-am-i-great-i-gave-all-the/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/all-of-our-humanity-is-dependent-upon-recognizing-the-humanity-in/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate. When we oppress others, we end up oppressing ourselves. All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/when-we-see-others-as-the-enemy-we-risk-becoming-what-we-hate-when-we/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Poor Humanity, crazed with fear, was fleeing in all directions on hearing the thundering pace of the Plague, War, Hunger and Death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-blasco-ib-ez/poor-humanity-crazed-with-fear-was-fleeing-in-all-directions-on/) [Vicente Blasco Ibáñez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-blasco-ib-ez/) > [How prone poor Humanity is to dam up the minutest remnants of its freedom, and build an artificial roof to prevent it looking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-t-a-hoffmann/how-prone-poor-humanity-is-to-dam-up-the-minutest-remnants-of-its/) [E. T. A. Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-t-a-hoffmann/) > [“Poor humanity! I often feel that the tableland of sanity upon which most of us dwell, is small in area, with unfenced precipices on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-galton/poor-humanity-i-often-feel-that-the-tableland-of-sanity-upon-which/) [Francis Galton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-galton/) > [Are there not thousands in the world who love their fellows even to the death, who feel the giant agony of the world, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/are-there-not-thousands-in-the-world-who-love-their-fellows-even-to/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [In verity we are the poor. This humanity we would claim for ourselves is the legacy, not only of the Enlightenment, but of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/in-verity-we-are-the-poor-this-humanity-we-would-claim-for-ourselves/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [Our life is what we make it. An insignificant game or a noble trial; a dream or a reality; a play of the senses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/our-life-is-what-we-make-it-an-insignificant-game-or-a-noble-trial-a/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [As much as I don't care about those things, I think it's human nature to not want to feel totally insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/as-much-as-i-don-t-care-about-those-things-i-think-it-s-human-nature/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“Don't you get it yet? The minute we decide that one person doesn't matter anymore, they've won."..."Beneath a sky crowded with a billion stars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/don-t-you-get-it-yet-the-minute-we-decide-that-one-person-doesn-t/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [You are Insignificant. One of millions, neither special nor unique. I did not ask for this ignominy, and I resent the comparison. Fine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/you-are-insignificant-one-of-millions-neither-special-nor-unique-i/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Sophie Swetchine > [A good, finished scandal, fully armed and equipped, such as circulates in the world, is rarely the production of a single individual, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/a-good-finished-scandal-fully-armed-and-equipped-such-as-circulates/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Respect is a serious thing in him who feels it, and the height of honor for him who inspires the feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/respect-is-a-serious-thing-in-him-who-feels-it-and-the-height-of/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Since there must be chimeras, why is not perfection the chimera of all men?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/since-there-must-be-chimeras-why-is-not-perfection-the-chimera-of-all/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Those who have suffered much are like those who know many languages; they have learned to understand and be understood by all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/those-who-have-suffered-much-are-like-those-who-know-many-languages/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Men are always invoking justice; yet it is justice which should make them tremble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/men-are-always-invoking-justice-yet-it-is-justice-which-should-make/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [To reveal imprudently the spot where we are most sensitive and vulnerable is to invite a blow. The demigod Achilles admitted no one to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/to-reveal-imprudently-the-spot-where-we-are-most-sensitive-and/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [God has prohibited despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/god-has-prohibited-despair/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [There are questions so indiscreet, that they deserve neither truth nor falsehood in reply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/there-are-questions-so-indiscreet-that-they-deserve-neither-truth-nor/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Antiquity is a species of aristocracy with which it is not easy to be on visiting terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/antiquity-is-a-species-of-aristocracy-with-which-it-is-not-easy-to-be/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [The best of lessons, for a good many people, would be to listen at a keyhole. It is a pity for such that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/the-best-of-lessons-for-a-good-many-people-would-be-to-listen-at-a/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [There is, by God's grace, an immeasurable distance between late and too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/there-is-by-god-s-grace-an-immeasurable-distance-between-late-and-too/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [A malicious enemy is better than a clumsy friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/a-malicious-enemy-is-better-than-a-clumsy-friend/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Truth only is prolific. Error, sterile in itself, produces only by means of the portion of truth which it contains. It may have offspring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/truth-only-is-prolific-error-sterile-in-itself-produces-only-by-means/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [By becoming unhappy, we sometimes learn how to be less so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/by-becoming-unhappy-we-sometimes-learn-how-to-be-less-so/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Our faults afflict us more than our good deeds console. Pain is ever uppermost in the conscience as in the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/our-faults-afflict-us-more-than-our-good-deeds-console-pain-is-ever/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) [Explore all 123 Sophie Swetchine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) ## More Dependent quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-is-dependent-upon-the-roles/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The average well-being of our societies is not dependent any longer on national income and economic growth. ... But the differences between us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-wilkinson/the-average-well-being-of-our-societies-is-not-dependent-any-longer/) [Richard G. Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-wilkinson/) > [I always knew I wanted to make my own way; I never wanted to be dependent on my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-mellon/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-make-my-own-way-i-never-wanted-to-be/) [Tamara Mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-mellon/) > [Rock music is electronic music, dependent entirely on electronic circuitry and amplification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/rock-music-is-electronic-music-dependent-entirely-on-electronic/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [We became closer and closer at the end of Freddie's life, and I think we were co-dependent in many ways. We stuck together for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-taylor/we-became-closer-and-closer-at-the-end-of-freddie-s-life-and-i-think/) [Roger Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-taylor/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The gospel assures you that your value is not dependent on your looks or material possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-l-jack/the-gospel-assures-you-that-your-value-is-not-dependent-on-your-looks/) [Elaine L. Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-l-jack/) > [The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-pride-of-learning-is-against-the-dependent-humility-of-prayer/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [As a social and as a personal force, religion has become a dependent variable. It does not originate; it reacts. It does not denounce;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wright-mills/as-a-social-and-as-a-personal-force-religion-has-become-a-dependent/) [C. Wright Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wright-mills/) > [The effective leader recognizes that she is more dependent on her people than they are on her. Walk softly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-effective-leader-recognizes-that-she-is-more-dependent-on-her/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) [Browse all 1,142 Dependent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and yet so great.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophie Swetchine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignificant-and-yet-so-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dependent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignificant-and-yet-so-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/sophie-swetchine-3738_dependent_poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignific_1142561.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and yet so great.” — Sophie Swetchine", "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": "Sophie Swetchine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Poor humanity!--so dependent, so insignificant, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignificant-and-yet-so-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/poor-humanity-so-dependent-so-insignificant-and-yet-so-great/#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 } } ] } ```