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I believe that the unity of man as opposed to other living things derives from the fact that man is the conscious life of himself. Man is conscious of himself, of his future, which is death, of his smallness, of his impotence; he is aware of others as others; man is in nature, subject to its laws even if he transcends it with his thought.

Erich Fromm#52

PhilosophyHumanityNatureConsciousnessExistentialism

About this quote

What does it mean?
Human unity comes from self-consciousness and awareness of mortality and limitations.
In plain terms
We are connected because we know we are small and will die.
What can you take from it?
Shared awareness unites humanity.

Where it applies

  • philosophical study
  • existential crisis
  • human rights

Putting it to work

  • reflect on existence
  • value human connection

Questions to consider

  • How does mortality affect your view of humanity?
  • What unites us?

Another view

Not all individuals share this level of existential awareness.

More from Erich Fromm

  1. To speak of love is not 'preaching,' for the simple reason that it means to speak of the ultimate and real need of every human being. That this need has been o…

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  2. I believe that man is the product of natural evolution that is born from the conflict of being a prisoner and separated from nature, and from the need to find …

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  3. Our society is run by a managerial bureaucracy, by professional politicians; people are motivated by mass suggestion, their aim is producing more and consuming…

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