--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we take a man as he is, we make him…" description: "\"If we take a man as he is, we make him worse, but if we take man as he should be we make him capable of becoming what he can be.\" — Viktor E. Frankl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/viktor-e-frankl-668_becoming_if-we-take-a-man-as-he-is-we-make-him-wo_3156471.jpg" --- # If we take a man as he is, we make him worse, but if we… ![“If we take a man as he is, we make him worse, but if we take man as he should be we make him capable of becoming what he can be.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/viktor-e-frankl-668_becoming_if-we-take-a-man-as-he-is-we-make-him-wo_3156471.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/viktor-e-frankl-668_becoming_if-we-take-a-man-as-he-is-we-make-him-wo_3156471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26a/viktor-e-frankl-668_becoming_if-we-take-a-man-as-he-is-we-make-him-wo_3156471.jpg) > “If we take a man as he is, we make him worse, but if we take man as he should be we make him capable of becoming what he can be.” [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating people as they currently are limits them; seeing their potential allows growth. **In simple terms:** Seeing potential helps growth. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture potential. Themes psychology human potential growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - leadership - coaching - personal development Key Concepts Existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance realistic expectations with encouragement? - What limits might you impose on others unintentionally? A Different Perspective Potential may be overstated without realistic support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Make Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-capable-4251214/) [Make Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-worse-402587/) [Man Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-make/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Worse Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-man-464262/) ## Related quotes > [When you take a man as he is, you make him worse. 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He shook his head, telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-giardina/i-m-your-wife-you-should-have-come-to-me-when-i-have-ever-not-been/) [Courtney Giardina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-giardina/) > [Is it fair to treat a woman worse than a man, and then revile her because she is a woman?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-woodhull/is-it-fair-to-treat-a-woman-worse-than-a-man-and-then-revile-her/) [Victoria Woodhull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-woodhull/) > [I can conceive of nothing worse than a man-governed world -- except a woman-governed world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-astor/i-can-conceive-of-nothing-worse-than-a-man-governed-world-except-a/) [Nancy Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-astor/) > [Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/never-stir-up-litigation-a-worse-man-can-scarcely-be-found-than-one/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little is worse than a man who never attempts to read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keorapetse-phelelo/any-man-who-reads-too-much-and-uses-his-own-brain-too-little-is-worse/) [Keorapetse Phelelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keorapetse-phelelo/) > [There's only one thing worse than a man who doesn't have strong likes and dislikes, and that's a man who has strong likes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-randall/there-s-only-one-thing-worse-than-a-man-who-doesn-t-have-strong-likes/) [Tony Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-randall/) > [The worse the man, the better the soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-worse-the-man-the-better-the-soldier/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“One man, she thought then, could build or destroy, could change time and history, for better or worse. One man. Or one woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-o-neal/one-man-she-thought-then-could-build-or-destroy-could-change-time-and/) [Barbara O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-o-neal/) > [Society than solitude is worse, And man to man is still the greatest curse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/society-than-solitude-is-worse-and-man-to-man-is-still-the-greatest/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [I know of no condition worse than that of the man who has little or no light on the supreme religious questions, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-fitch-burr/i-know-of-no-condition-worse-than-that-of-the-man-who-has-little-or/) [Enoch Fitch Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-fitch-burr/) ## More by Viktor E. Frankl > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured. To be sure, people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-the-past-nothing-is-irretrievably-lost-but-rather-on-the-contrary/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer... his unique opportunity lies in the way he bears his burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/when-a-man-finds-that-it-is-his-destiny-to-suffer-his-unique/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/a-positive-attitude-enables-a-person-to-endure-suffering-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“our sacrifice did have a meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-sacrifice-did-have-a-meaning/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-more-one-forgets-himself-by-giving-himself-to-a-cause-to-serve-or/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-i-venture-to-say-that-would-so/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's search for meaning is the chief motivation of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-search-for-meaning-is-the-chief-motivation-of-his-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one's belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-one-s-belief-but-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I think it was Lessing who once said, 'There are things which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-think-it-was-lessing-who-once-said-there-are-things-which-must/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“He main retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. Dostoevsky said once, 'There is only one thing that I dread: not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/he-main-retain-his-human-dignity-even-in-a-concentration-camp/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) [Explore all 381 Viktor E. 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