Human Nature Quotes

Few men are capable of making a continual sacrifice of all views of private interest, or advantage, to the common good. It is vain to exclaim against the depravity of human nature on this account; the fact is so, the experience of every age and nation has proved it and we must in a great measure, change the constitution of man, before we can make it otherwise. No institution, not built on the presumptive truth of these maxims can succeed.

Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?

We have errors to correct. We have probably had too good an opinion of human nature in forming our confederation.

We must take human nature as we find it, perfection falls not to the share of mortals.

There is a destiny which has the control of our actions, not to be resisted by the strongest efforts of human nature.

The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions.

We have never stopped sin by passing laws; and in the same way, we are not going to take a great moral ideal and achieve it merely by law.

There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see.

An average human looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness, inhales without awareness of odour or fragrance, and talks without thinking.

It is an acknowledged fact that we perceive errors in the work of others more readily than in our own.

Such is the supreme folly of man that he labours so as to labour no more.

Vows begin when hope dies.

Threats alone are the weapons of the threatened man.

There are two levers for moving men, interest and fear.

The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need.

Ordinarily men exercise their memory much more than their judgment.

Men take only their needs into consideration - never their abilities.

A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.

Men have their virtues and their vices, their heroisms and their perversities; men are neither wholly good nor wholly bad, but possess and practice all that there is of good and bad here below. Such is the general rule. Temperament, education, the accidents of life, are modifying factors. Outside of this, everything is ordered arrangement, everything is chance. Such has been my rule of expectation and it has usually brought me success.

I do not believe it is in our nature to love impartially. We deceive ourselves when we think we can love two beings, even our own children, equally. There is always a dominant affection.