The spiritual life is part of the human essence. It is a defining characteristic of human nature, without which human nature is not fully human.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of spirituality in defining what it means to be human.
Abraham Maslow expresses the notion that spirituality is a fundamental aspect of human existence. He suggests that without recognizing and nurturing our spiritual selves, we cannot fully understand or appreciate the essence of human nature. This perspective highlights the significance of spiritual exploration and development as integral to the human experience.
In practice
In a speech about personal growth, one might say: 'As Abraham Maslow noted, the spiritual life is essential to our humanity.'
It looks as if there were a single ultimate goal for mankind, a far goal toward which all persons strive. This is called variously by different authors self-actualization, self-realization, integration, psychological health, individuation, autonomy, creativity, productivity, but they all agree that this amounts to realizing the potentialities of the person, that is to say, becoming fully human, everything that person can be.
Dispassionate objectivity is itself a passion, for the real and for the truth.
The study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy
Marriage is a school itself. Also, having children. Becoming a father changed my whole life. It taught me as if by revelation.
It seems that the necessary thing to do is not to fear mistakes, to plunge in, to do the best that one can, hoping to learn enough from blunders to correct them eventually.
I was awfully curious to find out why I didn't go insane.
I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk when we remember the great sacrifice which he made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us.
We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine, at least, completely, who and what, and that we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.
Surefire things are deadening to the human spirit.
A liberal to me is one who - and it suits some of the dictionary definitions - is unbeholden to any specific belief or party or group or person, but makes up his or her mind on the basis of the facts and the presentation of those facts at the time. That defines what I am.
The evening news made her wonder if God was dead; the morning sun made her believe He wasn't.
A thinking man feels compelled to approach all life with the same reverence he has for his own.
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