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Human Nature
- Civilized ages inherit the human nature which was victorious in barbarous ages, and that nature is, in many respects, not at all suited to civilized circumstances.1826–77 English economist and essayist: Physics and Politics (1872)
- That is ever the way. 'Tis all jealousy to the bride and good wishes to the corpse.1860–1937 Scottish writer and dramatist: Quality Street (1913)
- There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the faults of his feet.1906–89 Irish dramatist, novelist, and poet: Waiting for Godot (1955) act 1
- By nature men are alike. Through practice they have become far apart.(K'ung Fu-tzu) 551–479 bc Chinese philosopher: Analects ch. 17, v. 2, tr. Wing-Tsit Chan
- The terrorist and the policeman both come from the same basket.1857–1924 Polish-born English novelist: The Secret Agent (1907) ch. 4
- Subdue your appetites my dears, and you've conquered human natur.Mr Squeers1812–70 English novelist: Nicholas Nickleby (1839) ch. 5
- History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.1915–2002 Israeli diplomat: speech in London, 16 December 1970, in Times 17 December 1970
- I still believe that people are really good at heart.1929–45 German-born Jewish diarist: diary, 15 July 1944
- Goodness has only once found a perfect incarnation in a human body and never will again, but evil can always find a home there. Human nature is not black and white but black and grey.1904–91 English novelist: ‘The Lost Childhood’ (1951)
- Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.1894–1963 English novelist: Themes and Variations (1950) ‘Variations on a Philosopher’
- But good God, people don't do such things!1828–1906 Norwegian dramatist: Hedda Gabler (1890) act 4
- A man always has two reasons for what he does—a good one and the real one.1837–1913 American financier and philanthropist: Owen Wister Roosevelt: The Story of a Friendship (1930)
- The natural man has only two primal passions, to get and beget.1849–1919 Canadian-born physician: Science and Immortality (1904)
- God and the doctor we alike adore
But only when in danger, not before;
The danger o'er, both are alike requited,
God is forgotten, and the Doctor slighted.c.1563–1622 Welsh epigrammatist: Epigrams; see Quarles - A man is a wolf rather than a man to another man, when he hasn't yet found out what he's like.often quoted as ‘Homo homini lupus [A man is a wolf to another man]’c.250–184 bc Roman comic dramatist: Asinaria l. 495
- It is part of human nature to hate the man you have hurt.c.ad 56–after 117 Roman senator and historian: Agricola ch. 42
- Adam was but human—this explains it all. He did not want the apple for the apple's sake; he wanted it only because it was forbidden.1835–1910 American writer: Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894) ch. 2
