The Ideal of Mankind vs. The Reality of Individuals

"I love mankind ... it's people I can't stand!!"― Charles M. Schulz

"I love mankind ... it's people I can't stand!!"― Charles M. Schulz

The Ideal of Mankind vs. The Reality of Individuals

I was having breakfast with fellow residents in my new home for independent senior living. At one point in the conversation one individual mentioned that he does not like or trust politicians and lawyers. In fact, the more they smile the more he distrusts them. That leads another person to say, "It's like I love humankind, it's people I don't like." At that moment and context it was very funny. It then led me to do a search for the origins of that joke and I found it doing a Google search. Sure enough it was from Charles Shulz and his wonderful character, Peanuts.

Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, had a way of saying deep things in a simple and funny way. When he said, "I love mankind … it's people I can't stand," he captured a feeling that many people understand.

Mankind, as a whole, represents the best of humanity. It makes us think of kindness, progress, and all the good things people can do. We admire great achievements, acts of bravery, and the ways people connect with and help each other. It is easy to love the idea of humanity because it includes hope and inspiration.

But dealing with real people every day is different. Individuals can be rude, selfish, impatient, or annoying. They interrupt, speak too loudly, or say things that hurt our feelings. People have moods, struggles, and habits that are not always pleasant. While mankind as a whole seems noble, actual people can be frustrating.

This does not mean we dislike everyone. It just means there is a big difference between loving humanity as an idea and interacting with real people. Many people believe in kindness, yet they lose patience when someone is rude or difficult. Even those who try to be understanding can struggle with certain personalities or behaviors.

Schulz's words are funny because they point out this contradiction. We admire humanity but get irritated by the people we meet. However, this does not mean we should give up on others. If we accept that people are flawed, we can be more patient.

In the end, if we can be understanding of other people's flaws, we might also find it easier to accept our own.