--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most interesting thing about the…" description: "\"“The most interesting thing about the world is its fantastic and unpsychoanalyzed character, its wretched and gallant personality, its horrible idiocy ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg" --- # The most interesting thing about the world is its… ![“The most interesting thing about the world is its fantastic and unpsychoanalyzed character, its wretched and gallant personality, its horrible idiocy and its magnificent intelligence, its unbelievable cruelty and its equally unbelievable kindness, its gorilla stupor, its canary cheerfulness, its…” quote by William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg) > ““The most interesting thing about the world is its fantastic and unpsychoanalyzed character, its wretched and gallant personality, its horrible idiocy and its magnificent intelligence, its unbelievable cruelty and its equally unbelievable kindness, its gorilla stupor, its canary cheerfulness, its thundering divinity, and its whimpering commonness.”” [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid, paradoxical portrait of humanity, highlighting its contradictions, brilliance, cruelty, and simplicity. **In simple terms:** Humanity is a mix of extremes and contradictions. Key Takeaway Accept and explore humanity's complexities. Themes human nature contradiction beauty flaws Mood thoughtful nuanced Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - cultural analysis - personal reflection - creative writing - social critique Key Concepts existential observation literary description Questions to Reflect On - What does this duality reveal about ourselves? - How can we balance admiration and criticism of humanity? A Different Perspective Focusing on extremes may overlook everyday nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canary Cheerfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canary-cheerfulness-964981/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Magnificent Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnificent-intelligence-964980/) [Unpsychoanalyzed Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpsychoanalyzed-character-964979/) [World Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-fantastic-964978/) ## Related quotes > [Being world No 1 would be fantastic but you'd like to do it by finishing the year as No 1 without anything happening off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/being-world-no-1-would-be-fantastic-but-you-d-like-to-do-it-by/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/see-the-world-it-s-more-fantastic-than-any-dream/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gygax/enjoy-a-world-where-the-fantastic-is-fact-and-magic-really-works/) [Gary Gygax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gygax/) > [The world is still a fantastic and wondrous place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/the-world-is-still-a-fantastic-and-wondrous-place-to-live/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [Into the ocean went a world more fantastic than any imagination could inspire ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyland/into-the-ocean-went-a-world-more-fantastic-than-any-imagination-could/) [Robert Wyland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyland/) > [“‎The world is fantastic...it's the ultimate absurd circus and I am shot from a cannon into the energy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fitzsimmons/the-world-is-fantastic-it-s-the-ultimate-absurd-circus-and-i-am-shot/) [Michael Fitzsimmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fitzsimmons/) > [Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/stuff-your-eyes-with-wonder-live-as-if-you-d-drop-dead-in-ten-seconds/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Four wins in four matches. It could not be better... the world is fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/four-wins-in-four-matches-it-could-not-be-better-the-world-is/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [“See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/see-the-world-it-s-more-fantastic-than-any-dream-made-or-paid-for-in-2/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/see-the-world-it-s-more-fantastic-than-any-dream-made-or-paid-for-in/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Courage and clemency are equal virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delarivier-manley/courage-and-clemency-are-equal-virtues/) [Delarivier Manley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delarivier-manley/) > [Generous in spirit, richly poetic, and packed with memorable characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-millman/generous-in-spirit-richly-poetic-and-packed-with-memorable-characters/) [Lawrence Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-millman/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## More by William Saroyan > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [The basic truth of all things, as nearly as we may ever dream of determining and knowing this truth, is form, that which is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-basic-truth-of-all-things-as-nearly-as-we-may-ever-dream-of/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [“This is a hell of a night. I don't want to leave it just to go to sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/this-is-a-hell-of-a-night-i-don-t-want-to-leave-it-just-to-go-to-sleep/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Americans still believe they are cut out to be successful-in everything: love, love-making, luck, luck-giving, money-making, sense-making, cancer-avoiding, clothes-wearing, car-driving, and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/americans-still-believe-they-are-cut-out-to-be-successful-in/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [I can't decide for you whether or not you have got to write, but if anything in the world, war, or pestilence, or famine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-can-t-decide-for-you-whether-or-not-you-have-got-to-write-but-if/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [He paints for the blind, and we are the blind, and he lets us see for sure what we saw long ago but weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/he-paints-for-the-blind-and-we-are-the-blind-and-he-lets-us-see-for/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [I am interested in madness. I believe it is the biggest thing in the human race, and the most constant. How do you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-am-interested-in-madness-i-believe-it-is-the-biggest-thing-in-the/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Two years ago your father died, Ulysses. But as long as we are alive, as long as we are together, as long as two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/two-years-ago-your-father-died-ulysses-but-as-long-as-we-are-alive-as/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Cowards are nice, they're interesting, they're gentle, they wouldn't think of shooting down people in a parade from a tower. They want to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/cowards-are-nice-they-re-interesting-they-re-gentle-they-wouldn-t/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [In the time of your life, live - so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/in-the-time-of-your-life-live-so-that-in-that-good-time-there-shall/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [San Francisco is a world to explore. It is a place where the heart can go on a delightful adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/san-francisco-is-a-world-to-explore-it-is-a-place-where-the-heart-can/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Even after you've won fame and fortune, every time you write you've got to write, there's no shortcut, you have to start your career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/even-after-you-ve-won-fame-and-fortune-every-time-you-write-you-ve/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose history is ended, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-should-like-to-see-any-power-of-the-world-destroy-this-race-this/) [WILLIAM SAROYAN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [There could be no extreme vanity in my recognition of myself, if in fact there could be any at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/there-could-be-no-extreme-vanity-in-my-recognition-of-myself-if-in/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [“This sense of being out of time has driven thousands of people from their homes into moving-picture theaters where new universes appear before them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/this-sense-of-being-out-of-time-has-driven-thousands-of-people-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) [Explore all 207 William Saroyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The most interesting thing about the world is its fantastic and unpsychoanalyzed character, its wretched and gallant personality, its horrible idiocy and its magnificent intelligence, its unbelievable cruelty and its equally unbelievable kindness, its gorilla stupor, its canary cheerfulness, its thundering divinity, and its whimpering commonness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Saroyan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-world-is-its-fantastic-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-world-is-its-fantastic-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/william-saroyan-1743_character_the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-wor_2491021.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most interesting thing about the world is its fantastic and unpsychoanalyzed character, its wretched and…” — William Saroyan", "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 Saroyan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The most interesting thing about the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-world-is-its-fantastic-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-most-interesting-thing-about-the-world-is-its-fantastic-and/#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 } } ] } ```