Quotes About Human nature

Everybody we know surrounds himself with a fine house, fine books, conservatory, gardens, equipage, and all manner of toys, as screens to interpose between himself and his guest. Does it not seem as if man was of a very sly, elusive nature, and dreaded nothing so much as a full rencontre front to front with his fellow?

Man is a god in ruins.

The action of the soul is oftener in that which is felt and left unsaid than in that which is said in any conversation. It broods over every society, and they unconsciously seek for it in each other. We know better than we do. We do not yet possess ourselves, and we know at the same time that we are much more. I feel the same truth how often in my trivial conversation with my neighbors, that somewhat higher in each of us overlooks this by-play, and Jove nods to Jove from behind each of us.

Nature, as we know her, is no saint…. She comes eating and drinking and sinning.

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts."—Samuel Johnson

Last, we may suppose that it gave pleasure both to relate and to hear wonderful stories, because such is human nature; and the pleasure can be increased, at least till the point of incredulity is reached, by exaggerating the wonderful. So some real happening at the base of an account may be reconstructed by shrinking the account down to the physically possible.

Do we seek happiness because we're sinners or because we're human? Should faith in God be dragged forward by duty or propelled by delight? Must we choose between holiness and happiness?

Do we seek happiness because we're sinners or because we're human? Should faith in God be dragged forward by duty or propelled by delight? Must we choose between holiness and happiness? Much

This place [Heaven] is not an ethereal realm of disembodied spirits, because human beings are by nature physical. (We are also spiritual.) What we are suited for - what we've been specifically designed for - is a place like the one God made for us: Earth.

If atheism is correct, his nauseating list from genocide to infanticide does not describe God's character but the people who claim to believe in God.

Men are men, unfortunately, no matter what their shape, and inclined to sin.

men do love sin, Will, oh how they love it, never doubt, in all shapes, sizes, colors, and smells.

Everyone thinks that. It's one of those little secrets we keep from each other. Show me a serious man and I'll show you a man who has never wept. Show me a madman and I'll show you a man who dried his tears a long time ago. Go ahead." "I

Those who don't build must burn. It's as old as history and juvenile delinquents." "So that's what I am." "There's some of it in all of us.

Can't you recognize the human in the inhuman?' 'I'd much rather recognize the inhuman in the human.

if you're a miserable sinner in one shape, you're a miserable sinner in another.

I am not afraid of robots. I am afraid of people, people, people. I want them to remain human.

Those who don't build must burn. It's as old as history and juvenile delinquents.' 'So that's what I am.' 'There's some of it in all of us.

Men act badly sometimes without being much worse than others

To cut oneself entirely from one's kind is impossible. To live in a desert one must be a saint.

Conrad's distrust of democracy sprang from his doubts whether the propagation of democracy as an aim in itself could solve any problems. He thought that, in view of the weakness of human nature and of the criminal character of society, democracy offered boundless opportunities for demagogues and charlatans

Envy and Arrogance and Avarice Are the three sparks that have all hearts enkindled.

Joseph Conrad

Anarchists, I suppose, have no families--not, at any rate, as we understand that social relation. Organization into families may answer to a need of human nature, but in the last instance it is based on law, and therefore must be something odious and impossible to an anarchist.