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Being Human Quotes

Honest words on the beautiful mess of being human.

These being human quotes range from Aristotle's idea that goodness is a kind of prospering in a precarious life to the simple observation that being human means being many things at once. They're less about answers than about noticing our shared identity.

For Aristotle, goodness is a kind of prospering in the precarious affair of being human.

Quotes by Terry Eagleton

I'm obsessed with being human.

Quotes by Rachelle Lefevre

Being human is being a lot of things at the same time.

Quotes by Matthias Schoenaerts

There's no huge, deep message in any of the songs. We recorded a few months of being human.

Quotes by Layne Staley

Compassion Quotes

Speech is a very important aspect of being human. A whisper doesn't cut it.

Quotes by James Earl Jones

The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.

George Orwell

Snowflakery is simply being human, which makes it a pretty flakey insult.

Quotes by Faith Salie

Obviously the idea of being human is a very human idea.

Quotes by Dominic Monaghan

Humankind would improve if we concentrated less on being human and more on being kind.

Quotes by Ashwin Sanghi

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aristotle's idea of being human mean here?
The quote credits Aristotle with the view that true goodness comes from managing to prosper even though human life is inherently precarious and uncertain. It frames human flourishing as an achievement rather than a guarantee.
Why say being human means 'being a lot of things at once'?
This quote resists a single, tidy definition of humanity, suggesting instead that our nature is made up of many overlapping and sometimes contradictory traits. It leaves room for complexity rather than a simple checklist, a theme also found in the identity quotes.
How important is speech to being human, according to these quotes?
One quote calls speech a very important part of what makes us human, and specifically notes that a whisper isn't enough to capture it. Real, full expression is treated as essential to human connection.
Do any of these quotes come from musicians?
Yes, one comes from someone describing their own songs as lacking a single grand message, instead just capturing a few months of ordinary human experience. It's a modest, grounded way of talking about art and everyday life, echoing the growth quotes about small, cumulative change.
Is there a common thread tying these being human quotes together?
Most of them avoid grand claims and instead point to something honest and shared, whether that's precariousness, plurality, speech, or ordinary experience. Together they suggest humanity is best understood through small, specific observations rather than one sweeping definition, connecting to the site's broader compassion quotes.

A few lines turn to speech as central to what makes us human, while others admit there's no grand message, just months of being human recorded in song. For more, see quotes on compassion and growth.