--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Irregularity is inherent in our very…" description: "\"“Irregularity is inherent in our very nature; expecting people to be perfectly wise is as crazy as putting wings on dogs or horns on eagles”\" — Voltaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png" --- # Irregularity is inherent in our very nature; expecting… ![“Irregularity is inherent in our very nature; expecting people to be perfectly wise is as crazy as putting wings on dogs or horns on eagles” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png) > ““Irregularity is inherent in our very nature; expecting people to be perfectly wise is as crazy as putting wings on dogs or horns on eagles”” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is imperfect; expecting perfect wisdom is absurd, like giving dogs wings. **In simple terms:** People are flawed; expecting perfection is silly. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and adjust expectations. Themes human nature imperfection expectations Mood critical humorous Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - education - management - personal relationships - policy making Key Concepts philosophy psychology humor Questions to Reflect On - What expectations are unreasonable? - How can we design systems acknowledging human flaws? A Different Perspective Idealizing perfection can lead to unrealistic goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inherent Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherent-nature-597469/) [Irregularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irregularity/) [Irregularity Inherent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irregularity-inherent-4127683/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Expecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-expecting-4127684/) [Wise Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-crazy-4127685/) ## Related quotes > [Leadership is inherent in our nature and is fundamental to our origins, our human makeup -and our destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/leadership-is-inherent-in-our-nature-and-is-fundamental-to-our/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“Kindness is not an act; It is our inherent nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chandar/kindness-is-not-an-act-it-is-our-inherent-nature/) [Deepak Chandar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chandar/) > [A writer has an inescapable voice. I think it's inherent in the nature, and I think that we don't control it anymore than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horton-foote/a-writer-has-an-inescapable-voice-i-think-it-s-inherent-in-the-nature/) [Horton Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horton-foote/) > [Consciousness is the basis of all life and the field of all possibilities. Its nature is to expand and unfold its full potential. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/consciousness-is-the-basis-of-all-life-and-the-field-of-all/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [“What is the need for solutions where everything is in its own inherent nature?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-the-need-for-solutions-where-everything-is-in-its-own/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Everyone is in their own inherent nature. No one has enmity towards anyone else. Rain is in its own inherent nature; it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/everyone-is-in-their-own-inherent-nature-no-one-has-enmity-towards/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Our natures are, indeed, elusively insubstantial—notoriously less stable and less inherent than the nature of other things. And insofar as this is the case,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-g-frankfurt/our-natures-are-indeed-elusively-insubstantial-notoriously-less/) [Harry G. Frankfurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-g-frankfurt/) > [“The world is in its inherent nature (swabhaav). Satyug (era of the time cycle that is characterized by unity in thoughts, speech, and action),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-world-is-in-its-inherent-nature-swabhaav-satyug-era-of-the-time/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“To first get to know what One's own inherent nature is like, to set the conviction (pratiti) for that, that is known as samkit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-first-get-to-know-what-one-s-own-inherent-nature-is-like-to-set/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Religion (Dharma) is for any ‘thing’ to come into it’s own inherent nature. You are the Soul. What is ‘One’s Own’ nature? It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/religion-dharma-is-for-any-thing-to-come-into-it-s-own-inherent/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Every element (vastu) is different by its inherent nature and elements which are different by their inherent nature cannot become one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/every-element-vastu-is-different-by-its-inherent-nature-and-elements/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Regularity, order, desire for perfection destroy art. Irregularity is the basis of all art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/regularity-order-desire-for-perfection-destroy-art-irregularity-is/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [I suffered most inconvenience from the difficulty of getting news from the civilised world down river, from the irregularity of receipt of letters, parcels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-walter-bates/i-suffered-most-inconvenience-from-the-difficulty-of-getting-news/) [Henry Walter Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-walter-bates/) > [Close investigation will show that the primary cause of oppression and injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is the people's lack of religious faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/close-investigation-will-show-that-the-primary-cause-of-oppression/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Irregularity quotes > [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Close investigation will show that the primary cause of oppression and injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder, is the people's lack of religious faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/close-investigation-will-show-that-the-primary-cause-of-oppression/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [I suffered most inconvenience from the difficulty of getting news from the civilised world down river, from the irregularity of receipt of letters, parcels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-walter-bates/i-suffered-most-inconvenience-from-the-difficulty-of-getting-news/) [Henry Walter Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-walter-bates/) > [Regularity, order, desire for perfection destroy art. Irregularity is the basis of all art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/regularity-order-desire-for-perfection-destroy-art-irregularity-is/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Languages are something of a mess. They evolve over centuries through an unplanned, democratic process that leaves them teeming with irregularities, quirks, and words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/languages-are-something-of-a-mess-they-evolve-over-centuries-through/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [The instability of our tastes is the occasion of the irregularity of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/the-instability-of-our-tastes-is-the-occasion-of-the-irregularity-of/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [The word itself has another color. It’s not a word with any resonance, although the e was once pronounced. There is only the bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-word-itself-has-another-color-it-s-not-a-word-with-any-resonance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am convinced that we as a body must conduct a formal and legitimate debate about election irregularities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-tubbs-jones/i-am-convinced-that-we-as-a-body-must-conduct-a-formal-and-legitimate/) [Stephanie Tubbs Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-tubbs-jones/) > [“That which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal: from which it follows that irregularity - that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/that-which-is-not-slightly-distorted-lacks-sensible-appeal-from-which/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [One can thus state, without fear of being wrong, that every truly artistic production has been conceived and executed according to the principle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/one-can-thus-state-without-fear-of-being-wrong-that-every-truly/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Irregularity and want of method are only supportable in men of great learning or genius, who are often too full to be exact, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/irregularity-and-want-of-method-are-only-supportable-in-men-of-great/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [We must cultivate and defend particularity, individuality, and irregularity-life. Human beings do not have a future in the collectivism of bureaucratic states or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/we-must-cultivate-and-defend-particularity-individuality-and/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Round about the accredited and orderly facts of every science there ever floats a sort of dustcloud of exceptional observations, of occurrences minute and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/round-about-the-accredited-and-orderly-facts-of-every-science-there/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [Relate comic things in pompous fashion. Irregularity, in other words the unexpected, the surprising, the astonishing, are essential to and characteristic of beauty. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/relate-comic-things-in-pompous-fashion-irregularity-in-other-words/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Let none presume to measure the irregularities of Michael Angelo or Socrates by village scales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/let-none-presume-to-measure-the-irregularities-of-michael-angelo-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 35 Irregularity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irregularity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Irregularity is inherent in our very nature; expecting people to be perfectly wise is as crazy as putting wings on dogs or horns on eagles”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Voltaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nature-expecting-people-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Irregularity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nature-expecting-people-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/voltaire-173_irregularity_irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nat_2901491.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Irregularity is inherent in our very nature; expecting people to be perfectly wise is as crazy as putting…” — Voltaire", "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": "Voltaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Irregularity is inherent in our very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nature-expecting-people-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/irregularity-is-inherent-in-our-very-nature-expecting-people-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```