--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Deepest principle of human nature is to…" description: "\"Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated.\" — William James" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png" --- # Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated. ![“Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated.” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png) > “Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated.” [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings seek recognition and value from others, which drives much of their behavior. **In simple terms:** People want to be appreciated. Key Takeaway Seek appreciation in relationships. Themes recognition selfesteem social behavior Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - teamwork - leadership - customer service - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology human motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you show appreciation authentically? - What happens when appreciation is withheld? A Different Perspective Appreciation alone may not fulfill deeper needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-deepest-principle-in-human-nature-is-the-craving-to-be-appreciated/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Pride of origin, whether high or low, springs from the same principle in human nature; one is but the positive, the other the negative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/pride-of-origin-whether-high-or-low-springs-from-the-same-principle/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Opinion, whether well or ill-founded, is the governing principle of human affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/opinion-whether-well-or-ill-founded-is-the-governing-principle-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“This parallel form of human automatic action is aptly demonstrated in an experiment by Harvard social psychologist Ellen Langer. A well-known principle of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-cialdini/this-parallel-form-of-human-automatic-action-is-aptly-demonstrated-in/) [Robert B. Cialdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-cialdini/) > [We, all of us, could do a much better job of evoking what someone has called the universal principle of human altruism: the urge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-starr/we-all-of-us-could-do-a-much-better-job-of-evoking-what-someone-has/) [Bart Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-starr/) > [... the main principle by which human beings must guide the future course of their development is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-main-principle-by-which-human-beings-must-guide-the-future-course/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [A well-known principle of human behavior says that when we ask someone to do us a favor we will be more successful if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-well-known-principle-of-human-behavior-says-that-when-we-ask/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We've got to take back the ideal of justice, we've got to take back this principle of human dignity. We've got to take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kaczynski/we-ve-got-to-take-back-the-ideal-of-justice-we-ve-got-to-take-back/) David Kaczynski > [It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-general-principle-of-human-nature-that-a-man-will-be-2/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“A general principle of human behavior is that it’s easier for us to see something negative in other people than in ourselves. This mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-small/a-general-principle-of-human-behavior-is-that-it-s-easier-for-us-to/) Gary Small > [It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-general-principle-of-human-nature-that-a-man-will-be/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The fundamental principle of human action, the law, that is to political economy what the law of gravitation is to physics is that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/the-fundamental-principle-of-human-action-the-law-that-is-to/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product of history and given social relations removes all barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-principle-that-human-nature-in-its-psychological-aspects-is/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Skepticism rather than credulity is the highest principle that the human intellect can use to ennoble our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/skepticism-rather-than-credulity-is-the-highest-principle-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It is a principle of human nature to hate those whom we have injured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-principle-of-human-nature-to-hate-those-whom-we-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## More by William James > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [In the dim background of our mind we know meanwhile what we ought to be doing: getting up, dressing ourselves, answering the person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/in-the-dim-background-of-our-mind-we-know-meanwhile-what-we-ought-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Our minds thus grow in spots; and like grease-spots, the spots spread. But we let them spread as little as possible: we keep unaltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/our-minds-thus-grow-in-spots-and-like-grease-spots-the-spots-spread/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Circumstance does not make me, it reveals me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/circumstance-does-not-make-me-it-reveals-me/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > ['Facts' are the bounds of human knowledge, set for it, not by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/facts-are-the-bounds-of-human-knowledge-set-for-it-not-by-it/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Woe to him whose beliefs play fast and loose with the order which realities follow in his experience; they will lead him nowhere or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/woe-to-him-whose-beliefs-play-fast-and-loose-with-the-order-which/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [We never fully grasp the import of any true statement until we have a clear notion of what the opposite untrue statement would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-never-fully-grasp-the-import-of-any-true-statement-until-we-have-a/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [It is your friends who make your world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/it-is-your-friends-who-make-your-world/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/human-beings-can-alter-their-lives-by-altering-their-attitudes-of-mind/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Most people, probably, are in doubt about certain matters ascribed to their past. They may have seen them, may have said them, done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/most-people-probably-are-in-doubt-about-certain-matters-ascribed-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“How soon, indeed, are human things forgotten! As we meet here this morning, the Southern sun is shining on their place of burial, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/how-soon-indeed-are-human-things-forgotten-as-we-meet-here-this/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [There can be no difference anywhere that does not make a difference somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/there-can-be-no-difference-anywhere-that-does-not-make-a-difference/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [It is wrong always, everywhere, and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/it-is-wrong-always-everywhere-and-for-everyone-to-believe-anything/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [The pragmatist turns away from abstraction and insufficiency, from verbal solutions, from bad a priori reasons, from fixed principles, closed systems, and pretended absolutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-pragmatist-turns-away-from-abstraction-and-insufficiency-from/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) [Explore all 854 William James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## More Appreciated quotes > [Art is art when it is appreciated by someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isao-tomita/art-is-art-when-it-is-appreciated-by-someone/) Isao Tomita > [Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/relish-love-in-your-old-age-aged-love-is-like-aged-wine-it-becomes/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [You know, your sarcasm isn’t appreciated right now. I’ve been drugged, beaten, nearly raped, saved, drugged again, hijacked, and now threatened by you. Tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-know-your-sarcasm-isn-t-appreciated-right-now-i-ve-been-drugged/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The Spanish never appreciated me like the British.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/the-spanish-never-appreciated-me-like-the-british/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [What I appreciated was the fact that the script delved into how Australians were - and still are - condescended to by the English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/what-i-appreciated-was-the-fact-that-the-script-delved-into-how/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [For once I feel appreciated and not someone to show off constantly smiling and knowing how amazing you are, I just want make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-once-i-feel-appreciated-and-not-someone-to-show-off-constantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I sometimes find that my family's emphasis on stories, characters, and art that appeals directly to children rather than over their heads to adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-berenstain/i-sometimes-find-that-my-family-s-emphasis-on-stories-characters-and/) [Mike Berenstain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-berenstain/) > [This element of surprise or mystery - the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called - is of great importance in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/this-element-of-surprise-or-mystery-the-detective-element-as-it-is/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Not everything that has got left out or rejected is unworthy and not all that have got selected or appreciated are worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/not-everything-that-has-got-left-out-or-rejected-is-unworthy-and-not/) [Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/) > [David Tennant is a massive fan, and grew up dreaming he would be the Doctor Who one day. So I did feel, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freema-agyeman/david-tennant-is-a-massive-fan-and-grew-up-dreaming-he-would-be-the/) [Freema Agyeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freema-agyeman/) > [I honestly don't feel that it's my music that's under-appreciated. I think that it's me that's under-appreciated. As an artist, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/i-honestly-don-t-feel-that-it-s-my-music-that-s-under-appreciated-i/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [You are a constant reminder of who I am and where I come from. A clear reflection of my personality and soul. Your presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tshepo-koos-maluleke/you-are-a-constant-reminder-of-who-i-am-and-where-i-come-from-a-clear/) [Tshepo Koos Maluleke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tshepo-koos-maluleke/) > [I would like to believe that all the roles I have portrayed so far - no matter how significant or insignificant they are -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-menon/i-would-like-to-believe-that-all-the-roles-i-have-portrayed-so-far-no/) [Shweta Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-menon/) > [I receive huge support from Irish and British sports fans alike and it is greatly appreciated. Likewise I feel I have a great affinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-receive-huge-support-from-irish-and-british-sports-fans-alike-and/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) Browse all 742 Appreciated quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to-be-appreciated/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appreciated" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to-be-appreciated/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/william-james-228_appreciated_deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to_147494.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated.” — William James", "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": "William James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Deepest principle of human nature is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to-be-appreciated/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/deepest-principle-of-human-nature-is-to-be-appreciated/#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 } } ] } ```