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Human Nature Quotes

Browse 4693 quotes about Human Nature.

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Human Nature Quotes

“We hardly know an instance of the strength and weakness of human nature so striking and so grotesque as the character of this haughty, vigilant, resolute, sagacious blue-stocking, half Mithridates and half Trissotin, bearing up against a world in arms, with an ounce of poison in one pocket and a quire of bad verses in the other.”

KnowsWorldHumansCharacterNatureHalfStrengthHuman NatureArmsWeaknessBlueInstancePoisonPocketsVersesGrotesqueVigilantResoluteStrength And WeaknessStockingsHaughty
Author:Thomas B. Macaulay
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“LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The sentiments and emotions which every literary anatomist now knows to haunt the heart were anciently believed to infest the liver; and even Gascoygne, speaking of the emotional side of human nature, calls it "our hepaticall parte." It was at one time considered the seat of life; hence its name- liver, the thing we live with.”

KnowsHumansHeartScienceNamesSidesEmotionHuman NatureEmotionalHumourRedSeatsSentimentsOne TimeOrgansLiver
Book:The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary
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“Hypocrisy itself does great honor, or rather justice, to religion, and tacitly acknowledges it to be an ornament to human nature. The hypocrite would not be at so much pains to put on the appearance of virtue, if he did not know it was the most proper and effectual means to gain the love and esteem of mankind.”

IfsKnowsHumansMeanDoePainJusticeVirtueMankindHuman NatureHonorGainsAppearanceEsteemAcknowledgeHypocrisyHypocriteOrnaments
Book:The spectator
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“A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad On Solitary Fields That Science cannot overtake But Human Nature feels. It waits upon the Lawn, It shows the furthest Tree Upon the furthest Slope you know It almost speaks to you. Then as Horizons step Or Noons report away Without the Formula of sound It passes and we stay - A quality of loss Affecting our Content As Trade had suddenly encroached Upon a Sacrament.”

KnowsFeelsYearsHumansShowsLightSpeakWaitingSoundLossQualityStepsTreeHuman NatureFieldsColorPeriodsSpringTradeReportsMarchHorizonFormulasSolitarySacramentsNoonLawnsSlopes
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Emily Dickinson (Illustrated)
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“It is the assumption of this book that there is a typical human nature. It is the aim of this book to seek it. Just like a surgeon, a psychiatrist can make all sorts of basic assumptions when a patient lies down upon the couch. He can assume that the patient knows what it means to love, to envy, to trust, to think, to speak, to fear, to smile, to bargain, to covet, to dream, to remember, to sing, to quarrel, to lie. The 'smile' of a baboon is a threat; the smile of a man is a sign of pleasure: it is human nature, the world over.”

ThinkingKnowsMenWorldHumansMeanBookDreamRememberLyingSpeakPleasureHuman NatureEvolutionAimAssumingThreatPatientEnvyAssumptionTypicalQuarrelsCouchesPsychiatristBargainsSurgeonsBaboons
Author:Matt Ridley
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“It's just human nature - isn't it? - to be more attracted to something that's taboo. If someone tells you not to smoke, you wanna smoke. If they say, 'Don't do drugs,' you wanna do drugs. That's why I've always thought that the best way to stop people taking drugs is to legalise the fucking things. It would take people about five seconds to realise that being an addict is a terribly unattractive and pathetic way to be, whereas at the moment it still has that kind of rebel cool vibe to it, y'know?”

PeopleIfsKnowsWayHumansKindStillsMomentsFiveHuman NatureKingsDrugBest WaySmokeRealisingSecondsRebelAddictPatheticTabooUnattractive
Author:Ozzy Osbourne
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“Although it may be difficult in theory to know what is just and equal, the practical difficulty of inducing those to forbear who can, if they like, encroach, is far greater, for the weaker are always asking for equality and justice, but the stronger care for none of these things.”

IfsKnowsMayCareDifficultJusticeGreaterHuman NatureTheoryEqualDifficultyStrongerAskingPracticalsEquality And Justice
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Aristotle (Illustrated)
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“He, who, in view of its inconsistencies, says of human nature the same that, in view of its contrasts, is said of the divine nature, that it is past finding out, thereby evinces a better appreciation of it than he who, by always representing it in a clear light, leaves it to be inferred that he clearly knows all about it.”

KnowsHumansSaidLightPastViewsClearHuman NatureDivineFindingsAppreciationContrastRepresentingInconsistencyDivine Nature
Book:The Confidence-man: His Masquerade
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“You never know what's actually going on in a person's life. You don't know what happened to them before you met them...and that's why they are the way they are. But I do think about it whenever I get in contact with my fans. I know this may be the only time they'll ever meet me. I try to take advantage of that moment and be kind and grateful.”

ThinkingKnowsWayTryingKindMayPersonsMomentsWisdomRealityCommunityHappenedFansHuman NatureMetsAdvantageGratefulStrategyUnityIndividualityContactIdeologyThat MomentBe KindOnly Time
Author:Katy Perry
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“But the question is, do we care enough? Do we care enough to keep standing up for the country that we know is possible, even if it's hard, and even if it's politically uncomfortable? Do we care enough to sustain the passion and the pressure to make our communities safer and our country safer? Do we care enough to do everything we can to spare other families the pain that is felt here today?”

IfsKnowsCountryHardEnoughRealityCareTodayPainPassionPoliticsFeltCommunityLeadershipJusticeDemocracyViolenceHuman NaturePolicyEthicsStandingPressureHuman RightsOur CountryIdeologyUncomfortableSparesCivilityDisobedienceOur CommunityCivil Disobedience
Author:Barack Obama
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“...It's all sort of dreams and it's all illusion. It's theater; it's not real. We're making up stories, you know, and people tend to run into you and believe you are your characters. And I suppose the funny thing is the longer you go, you do become sort of some version of [your characters]. You both diverge from them - you know - you live, but you also permanently inhabit that geography and that mental space - and so you do morph a little bit. We do become what we imagine.”

PeopleKnowsBelieveLittlesRealCharacterStoriesWisdomDreamRealityRunningBitsCommunitySpaceHistoryImagineGenerationsHuman NatureLittle BitIllusionTheaterIndividualityVersionsIdeologyGeographyFunny ThingsMaking Up
Author:Bruce Springsteen
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“I...understand that age is kind of awesome. I am fortunate enough to know women like Gloria Steinem - who I think is one of the most stunning women on the planet - [who] doesn't touch her face. Diane Keaton, Annette Bening - all of these fabulous, fearless women who are flawless - they embrace it!”

ThinkingKnowsKindEnoughWisdomRealityAgeFacesScienceNatureLeadershipGenerationsFashionHuman NaturePlanetsHealthEmbraceIndividualityIdeologyFearlessFortunateFabulousStunningFlawlessGloria
Author:Jennifer Aniston
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“I'm so sick and tired of all this violence, this gun violence. And how could I speak on it - you know - being one who has advocated violence and gun violence? The only way I could do it was through a song that spoke from the heart.”

KnowsWayHeartWisdomRealitySongPoliticsSpeakCommunityLeadershipJusticeHistoryViolenceGenerationsHuman NaturePolicyEthicsGunSickStrategyTiredUnityHuman RightsIndividualitySocial MediaIdeologySpokesFree SpeechCivilityDisobedienceCivil DisobedienceGun ViolenceSo Sick
Author:Snoop Dogg
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“I feel passionately about issues, and I don't hide my emotions from people. I am not a focus group-tested, blow-dried candidate or governor. Now that has always made some people, you know, uneasy. Some people like that style, some people don't. [...] But I am not a bully.”

PeopleKnowsFeelsMadePoliticalPoliticsCommunityPartyEmotionIssuesFocusGroupsStyleHuman NatureStrategyBlowIdeologyCandidatesGovernorsBullyTestedPolitical PartiesCivilityUneasyFocus Groups
Author:Chris Christie
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“The first reform must be the attitude. The ministers of the Gospel must be people who can warm the hearts of the people, who walk through the dark night with them, who know how to dialogue and to descend themselves into their people's night, into the darkness, but without getting lost. The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials.”

PeopleKnowsWantFirstsHeartGovernmentNightReligionLostCommunityLeadershipChurchDarkWalksActingAttitudeDarknessKnow HowHuman NatureWarmSeparationDialogueIdeologyReformMinistersOfficialsPastorChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateBureaucratsClergyDark NightGetting LostGovernment Officials
Author:Pope Francis
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“The true contrast between science and religion is that science unites the world and makes it possible for people of widely differing backgrounds to work together and to cooperate. Religion, on the other hand, by its very claim to know “The Truth” through “revelation,” is inherently divisive and a creator of separatism and hostility.”

PeopleKnowsWorldHandsTogetherReligionHuman NatureClaimsCreatorBackgroundsRevelationsWorking TogetherCooperationContrastScience And ReligionHostility
Author:Hermann Bondi
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“I can't begin to predict how news will be delivered to readers in, say, 100 years. But I do know one thing that hasn't changed: Whatever the delivery system, whether it's a magazine, book or blog, people like vivid writing, strong stories and credible people. So while the venue is changing rapidly, human nature isn't, which I find soothing.”

PeopleKnowsWritingYearsHumansI CanBookStoriesStrongOne ThingHuman NatureChangedReaderNewsMagazinesVividBlogsDeliverySoothingCredibleVenues
Author:Anna Quindlen
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“Most people believe they know how they themselves think, how others think too, and even how institutions evolve. But they are wrong. Their understanding is based on folk psychology, the grasp of human nature by common sense ¾ defined (by Einstein) as everything learned to the age of 18 ¾ shot through with misconceptions, and only slightly advanced over ideas employed by the Greek philosophers”

PeopleThinkingKnowsBelieveHumansIdeasAgeUnderstandingCommonKnow HowPsychologyHuman NatureShotsInstitutionsFolksPhilosopherCommon SenseDefinedEvolveGreekEmployedMisconceptionGreek Philosopher
Author:E. O. Wilson
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“Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met on the street.”

IfsKnowsMenCharacterStreetsHuman NatureHonorIntegrityMetsReputationHypocrisyGood CharacterGreat CharacterIntegrity And CharacterIntegrity CharacterGood ReputationHonor And IntegrityBuilding CharacterMan Of IntegrityPersonality FlawsCharacter And ReputationCharacter Of A ManImage And Reputation
Book:Contemplations: Being Several Short Essays Helpful Sermonettes, Epigrams and Orphic Sayings
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“Biblical social scientists have an advantage because they know truths about human nature. Those who dismiss the Bible and create surveys that don't measure crucial factors are the ones who have closed minds. Sometimes the Bible gives us clear answers and sometimes it doesn't, but it always helps us to ask the right questions.”

KnowsGivingMindHumansSometimesHelpingAsksSocialAnswersClearHuman NatureAdvantageScientistFactorsCrucialBiblicalSurveysRight QuestionsClosed Mind
Author:Marvin Olasky
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“I'm such a product of my media diet... it's interesting that you say what I do is observational. It's observational as far as it goes - to the extent that I observe media closely. Kriota might have a better sense of this. I don't always have the best sense of how human nature works, but I certainly know how to dismantle representations of characters.”

KnowsHumansCharacterMightInterestingKnow HowMediaHuman NatureProductsDietsRepresentation
Author:Robert Sikoryak
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“I don't speak anything very well. The longer that you travel, you find out that you really don't even need to speak the language to get around and get things done, to live in those places. If you're somewhat resourceful and perceptive, you're pretty much going to know what's going on because human nature is human nature: they understand it, you understand it, and it works.”

IfsKnowsNeedsHumansWellsDoneSpeakLanguageHuman NatureThings DoneResourcefulYou Re Pretty
Author:Alan Bishop
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