"I'm only human" -- do you agree with this phrase?

I don't think I could respond any better than how you just put that. I completely agree. Human nature is to make mistakes, our conscience makes up want to repair the damage. To say that "it's only human" is just an excuse, a justification for your own actions. I'm human, I make mistakes, but to pass it off as oh, well then it is never owning up to whatever it is that I have done. Maybe "I'm only human" is really the catch all expression for "I hear what you're saying, but I'm not taking responsiblity for it anyway."

This makes me laugh. When people say this, usually it has to do with the fact that we ARE only human - not computers, not machines, we are passionate and emotional creatures and we react to hormones, situations, environment. THAT is what people are talking about. I don't see it as people trying to excuse a mistake - a mistake is different than taking into account the internal workings of our species. We clearly do not understand everything. Different people are skilled at different things, ie some folks can multitask, some people can't even talk on the phone and walk without tripping. Some people are very methodical and logical, other people are impulsive and jump before looking, and they may have no plans at all and just fly by the seat of their pants. I think more than any other creatures, we are the only ones who have so many differences, such a wide range from one to another. Everybody DOES make mistakes, if we didn't, back to the whole robot or computer thing . Robots and computers can't feel though. They cannot really make decisions based on anything other than what WE feed into them. That is why it's such a neat thing to be human. We get to decide and we base many things on feelings.

Excellent point, but in my opinion you are taking the phrasing a little literal. To me it means they are admitting that they aren't perfect which no one is, and we are prone to mistakes that we need to learn from. If we don't learn from mistakes nothing will get better. Now for those that just say "I'm only human" for the heck of it well they need to take responsibility for their actions or words coz even tho no one is perfect doesn't mean no one is accountable for their own actions or words. Hope that helps all the best take care

Yes, it can be an over-used phrase, however, I don't hear it used much from other people. I'm the one that uses it more often when I am defending someone who is being criticized. Unfortunately, there are those who expect perfection out of people, or expect them to act the way they want them to act, and just forget that nobody's perfect. So, sometimes you have to remind people that "they are only human", and that they need to take them off their pedestal, and accept the mistakes that others make.

This is a very interesting thought indeed I never really gave it much thought which is weird for I have a habit of really analyzing things but for me I have many different points the first being I am human but opening states what other creature would one want to be and maybe that shows to some extent of being a human and realizing humanity and also humility. I can think of many animals that could be very interesting to have been not that i would of liked the eating menu but like an eagle or bird they can fly so far above seeing the world knowing no boundaries ect in fact in that note perhaps animals have an upper hand with us for they know humility and for me there comes in the phase I am only human born mostly in reference from what i know in comparrision of gods Humans are flawed plain and simple and I see it as an acknowledgement as such not so much if they use it all the time but on the whole use once in a great while it can be the way I see it as humility admitting to ourselves no matter what no matter how much we try we can not be perfect we were not meant to be perfect but also on the other end we are not suppose to hide behind those imperfections but sit there and try and find a way to better ourselves to me that could be the meaning of i am only human but for the person who wants to use it as an excuse just to be a mess up then they have many more issues than the choice of words for they have some deep issues and they really are sad beings

We are humans of course but a lot of people use this phrase to hide their mistakes. They hide behind this phrase just to tell us that they are not ready to accept the mistake so they will say a lot. Gosh! Mistakes are there to be corrected if we point out and accept what is wrong. What is wrong in accepting our mistakes for correction? I don't take people who hide behind this phrase seriously.

I think they are trying to survive by denying the fact that they made mistakes and I don’t think there is anything wrong in that. As you said, the human mind is has amazing powers and its in our hands to improve ourselves…however, nobody is perfect just because the very definition of being perfect is mired in controversy…what is perfect to you might fall way short of my expectations and then, our entire life is a learning process and until and unless we have that knowledge, we commit mistakes unknowingly…sometimes, we are not even aware of any of our actions being a mistake! So there is nothing wrong in owning up our mistakes, the very fact that we understand and accept them as mistakes shows superiority of the human brain over other animals… Also, if we always try to run after perfection, we would hardly be able to enjoy life.

Hi oyenkai, you have analysed it correctly. We tend to find excuses for our mistakes by telling ourselves and others that we too are capable of making mistakes like the others , so what ?? I think it is a wrong way of looking at it, no doubt one is bound to make mistakes, but the best thing to do would be to see find out the reason for making this mistake and try to erradicate it the next time...

I agree with you on how people are using the phrase as an excuse. What does that phrase exactly mean anyways? Sounds to me like an phrase to use when I've been caught doing something wrong. Giving into ones own pleasures, urges, wants, anger, motives, or whatever. The other side of this is what I may see as being wrong, may not be wrong to others, or vice versa.

Just exuses i think. Actually i never say so if i had made mistaken.

Good question.. I think that the "I'm only human" phrase works once.. If the person continually makes the same mistake it is something else.. If a person does not take the time to learn from their mistakes then it just being (well think of a nice word) ignite. As humans we have brains and well we should use them..

No.I don't.I agree with your explain.God was created us by perfect creation.With brain to think,no other creation have it.Yes,I know that human can make mistake but it's not mean they have permition to do mistake.So,WE ARE HUMAN.Maybe I agree this sentence.Without ONLY Because it's word seemengly condescend Human.Nice discussion!.

no i don't agree with that. When someone says "im only human" its like your blaming yourself being a human every one make mistakes but being a human is not the reason behind it..

When people say "I am only human," I think it is an indirect way of sayong I am not perfect. This is a very abusely used excuse. Making mistakes is inevitable no matter what we do. And so, we are just only humans.

I have quite a different opinion of it. Telling yourself that when you commit mistakes is just acknowledging that you are human indeed. It is rather saying sorry in other ways. Being human indeed is prone to committing mistakes but when you tell I am only human doesn't mean you are blaming humanity but rather acknowledging humanities flaws, it also doesn't mean you cannot correct it by admitting you are human. I do not see anything wrong with it, when we commit mistakes we acknowledge that it was a mistake of our because we are part of humanity and that is all we are. The next step towards that statement is I am human too that I should be able to correct myself because it is a given privilege for us and I should not be judge because we are all human too, frail and can commit mistakes like I do.

I hate people using the phrase "I'm only human" because like you said people only say it to cover up for their mistakes. They are trying to limit themselves from doing other things. And that's not a good habit to do. We are made in the image and likeness of God...nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it and do it with a strong heart and determination.

Using the phrase "I'm only human" indicates that the person is not strong to control his human failures but we must not over use that phrase. We have mind to control what we are doing and emotions that balances them. I think some people are using that phrase for excuses that they cannot resist temptations or failures and they don't want to be blamed.

You have a point there. This phrase is used by people as an excuse. On the other hand... it's obviously normal for people to make mistakes.

People who make excuses like that are afraid to take responsibility for their mistakes and they just dismiss it by those 3 words. I'm not sure if they are even aware of our natural shortcomings compared to negligence or careless disregard to certain details. If they lack capacity to admit small issues what can you expect if they do commit serious irreparable errors... There are people who are keen to details and they have the initiative to do things responsively - people who are willing to go another mile, its sad that they are rare... and so many are just plain immature if they thought they can be forgiven by reminding you that they are just humans! Sometimes its really annoying, specially when you set reasonable grounds or standards to be met, you know for a fact that there are people who can diligently abide to it and yet those who don't - are humans! Wack!

'I'm only human" --- Yeah, it's a good excuse people make. I mean, yeah, as human as we are, we do make mistakes because we have certain limitation only and our thinking is and could never be perfect. However, I really don't agree and accept that kind of excuse if used repeatedly whenever we make mistakes. I would rather hear 'sorry'--because that means you have accepted your mistake and remorseful about it...