There do in fact exist creators, seers, sages, saints, shakers, and movers… even if they are uncommon and do not come by the dozen. And yet these very same people can at times be boring, irritating, petulant, selfish, angry, or depressed. To avoid disillusionment with human nature, we must first give up our illusions about it.

About Abraham Maslow

Abraham Harold Maslow ( MAZ-loh; April 1, 1908 – June 8, 1970) was an American psychologist who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization.

More quotations from Abraham Maslow

A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting.

—Abraham Maslow

If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.

—Abraham Maslow

perception tools

What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.

—Abraham Maslow

accomplishment being becoming self-actualization

History

2 Dec 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

There do in fact exist creators, seers, sages, saints, shakers, and movers . . . even if they are uncommon and do not come by the dozen. And yet these very same people can at times be boring, irritating, petulant, selfish, angry, or depressed. To avoid disillusionment with human nature, we must first give up our illusions about it.