--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even the most despicable person is still…" description: "\"Even the most despicable person is still a human being.\" — Stellan Skarsgard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png" --- # Even the most despicable person is still a human being. ![“Even the most despicable person is still a human being.” quote by Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png) > “Even the most despicable person is still a human being.” [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even the worst individuals retain humanity, reminding us to see beyond actions. **In simple terms:** Everyone remains human despite flaws. Key Takeaway Treat all people with basic dignity. Themes humanity morality empathy judgment redemption Mood compassionate serious Type ethical social When to use this quote - Criminal justice reform - conflict mediation - personal relationships - public policy Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychology of evil social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we maintain empathy for harmful actors? - What limits exist to universal dignity? A Different Perspective Dehumanizing language can perpetuate harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despicable/) [Despicable Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despicable-person-3628217/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Person Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-human-655908/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) ## Related quotes > [“Tricking someone into a relationship is the earmark of a despicable person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-moore/tricking-someone-into-a-relationship-is-the-earmark-of-a-despicable/) [Addison Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-moore/) > [I may be a despicable person, but when Truth speaks through me I am invincible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-may-be-a-despicable-person-but-when-truth-speaks-through-me-i-am/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“He is the sort of despicable person who has no understanding of how despicable he is, and my badgering him with insults won’t change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-is-the-sort-of-despicable-person-who-has-no-understanding-of-how/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Medellin gave me so much. It gave me back who I am: the person I am, the human being I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-jam/medellin-gave-me-so-much-it-gave-me-back-who-i-am-the-person-i-am-the/) [Nicky Jam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-jam/) > [When any person suffers for someone in greater need, that person is a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/when-any-person-suffers-for-someone-in-greater-need-that-person-is-a/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“A person is a human body-mind as a whole, an autonomous and dynamic system that arises in dependence upon human culture and the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/a-person-is-a-human-body-mind-as-a-whole-an-autonomous-and-dynamic/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [When you start to find balance, then you start to ask more important questions, like, 'Who am I really?' That's when you start seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-bleiler/when-you-start-to-find-balance-then-you-start-to-ask-more-important/) [Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/) > [If a person - any human being - is told often enough, "You are nothing. You are nothing. You account for nothing. You count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-a-person-any-human-being-is-told-often-enough-you-are-nothing-you/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The people who watch you on the court often don't know you as an actual person - a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/the-people-who-watch-you-on-the-court-often-don-t-know-you-as-an/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [“Man is originally characterized by his "search for meaning" rather than his "search for himself." The more he forgets himself—giving himself to a cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-is-originally-characterized-by-his-search-for-meaning-rather-than/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“When we become acquainted with any person on a human level, even a great enemy, we begin to see that no person is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-become-acquainted-with-any-person-on-a-human-level-even-a/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [There is something beautiful and permanent in the world, and that is the love that a person can have for another human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/there-is-something-beautiful-and-permanent-in-the-world-and-that-is/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [“He didn't think of her individual traits, he didn't think of the details of her hair, or her eyes, or her body. He thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/he-didn-t-think-of-her-individual-traits-he-didn-t-think-of-the/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [I'm not a perfect person. I'm. human like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/i-m-not-a-perfect-person-i-m-human-like-everyone-else/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [Even when I'm playing a lawyer or a doctor, I want to play a person. A human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-august-richards/even-when-i-m-playing-a-lawyer-or-a-doctor-i-want-to-play-a-person-a/) [J. August Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-august-richards/) ## More by Stellan Skarsgard > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I am indeed a fan of John le Carre's novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-indeed-a-fan-of-john-le-carre-s-novels/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [The ethical code of my upbringing was be good to people and try not to hurt them. You don't need a god to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/the-ethical-code-of-my-upbringing-was-be-good-to-people-and-try-not/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Actors are different. Some actors play themselves very successfully, but I come from the theater. Having done Shakespeare, we sometimes did three or four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/actors-are-different-some-actors-play-themselves-very-successfully/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [We have to know that the bad guys are not different from us in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/we-have-to-know-that-the-bad-guys-are-not-different-from-us-in-the/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Any society that starts forbidding certain words or expressions is a society you should be wary about, whether it's the KGB or social consensus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/any-society-that-starts-forbidding-certain-words-or-expressions-is-a/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Man is such an amazing animal, and the possibilities are infinite for each person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/man-is-such-an-amazing-animal-and-the-possibilities-are-infinite-for/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [It takes a long time to make me beautiful, but it goes fast to make me ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/it-takes-a-long-time-to-make-me-beautiful-but-it-goes-fast-to-make-me/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Theres nothing more reassuring than a world thats crazier than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/theres-nothing-more-reassuring-than-a-world-thats-crazier-than-you-are/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Even if you're the President of the United States, you still act like a little child and think like a little child sometimes. Childish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/even-if-you-re-the-president-of-the-united-states-you-still-act-like/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Most of my acting in general is about what's going on in the head, and the lines are just something that comes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/most-of-my-acting-in-general-is-about-what-s-going-on-in-the-head-and/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [In Europe, the director is the king: it's his vision. It's an auteur tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/in-europe-the-director-is-the-king-it-s-his-vision-it-s-an-auteur/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [If you look at Kirsten Dunst's performance in 'Melancholia,' which I think is absolutely wonderful - it's not even in the text, because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/if-you-look-at-kirsten-dunst-s-performance-in-melancholia-which-i/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [One of the beauties of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is the very delicate and strange relationship between the two main characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/one-of-the-beauties-of-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-is-the-very/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Kenneth Branagh is one of the funniest directors on the set. You laugh a lot. He's very skillful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/kenneth-branagh-is-one-of-the-funniest-directors-on-the-set-you-laugh/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) [Explore all 126 Stellan Skarsgard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) ## More Despicable quotes > [I would of course like to think I've never done a truly despicable thing, but then again you don't always know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-andrews/i-would-of-course-like-to-think-i-ve-never-done-a-truly-despicable/) [Finn Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-andrews/) > [I admire certain priests and nuns who go off on their own and do God's work on their own, who help in the ghettos,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-admire-certain-priests-and-nuns-who-go-off-on-their-own-and-do-god/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Poverty, when it is voluntary, is never despicable, but takes an heroical aspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/poverty-when-it-is-voluntary-is-never-despicable-but-takes-an/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I'm not saying that all women are blameless - all women are not. There are women with despicable characters who are cruel and terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-m-not-saying-that-all-women-are-blameless-all-women-are-not-there/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/lies-hold-civilization-together-if-people-ever-seriously-begin/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [I can play a man who's despicable. But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection. If I can find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-can-play-a-man-who-s-despicable-but-i-ll-still-look-inside-him-to/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ The American experiment, the United States in the past eight years \[2008-2016\] was not considered worthy of leading, because we had committed too many… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-american-experiment-the-united-states-in-the-past-eight-years/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [What Clinton did with Lewinsky was despicable but was no threat to the nation. That he lied about it repeatedly and to the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/what-clinton-did-with-lewinsky-was-despicable-but-was-no-threat-to/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Despair makes a despicable figure, and descends from a mean original. 'Tis the offspring of fear, of laziness and impatience; it argues a defect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-collier/despair-makes-a-despicable-figure-and-descends-from-a-mean-original/) [Jeremy Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-collier/) > [I guess there's nothing I don't like about Merlin, in this presentation. I love everything, even the things I find despicable and abhorrent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-guess-there-s-nothing-i-don-t-like-about-merlin-in-this/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [Nothing is more despicable than a professional talker who uses his words as a quack uses his remedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/nothing-is-more-despicable-than-a-professional-talker-who-uses-his/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [The nature of men and women - their essential nature - is so vile and despicable that if you were to portray a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-nature-of-men-and-women-their-essential-nature-is-so-vile-and/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Let me just be candid: My party is full of racists. And the real reason a considerable portion of my party wants President Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/let-me-just-be-candid-my-party-is-full-of-racists-and-the-real-reason/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [People sometimes rationalize their greed by saying that it is all for the good of their children but this is nothing but an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/people-sometimes-rationalize-their-greed-by-saying-that-it-is-all-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) [Browse all 172 Despicable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despicable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even the most despicable person is still a human being.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stellan Skarsgard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still-a-human-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despicable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still-a-human-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/stellan-skarsgard-3602_despicable_even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still_2991706.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even the most despicable person is still a human being.” — Stellan Skarsgard", "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": "Stellan Skarsgard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even the most despicable person is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still-a-human-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/even-the-most-despicable-person-is-still-a-human-being/#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 } } ] } ```