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Human Nature Quotes

Browse 4693 quotes about Human Nature.

Human Nature Quotes

“Human nature is good, just as water seeks low ground. There is no man who is not good, just as there is no water that does not flow downward.”

Men Humans Doe Humanity Water Human Nature Goodness Lows Flow

Author:Mencius

“Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.”

Source: Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz

“We have no participation in Being, because all human nature is ever midway between being born and dying, giving off only a vague image and shadow of itself, and a weak and uncertain opinion. And if you chance to fix your thoughts on trying to grasp its essence, it would be neither more nor less than if your tried to clutch water.”

Ifs Thinking Giving Trying Humans Would Be Water Born Chance Opinion Dying Human Nature Shadow Weak Essence Thoughtful Uncertain Vague Participation Clutch Midway

Book:The Essays

Source: The Essays

“Loki in 'Thor' is the most incredible springboard into a sort of excavation of the darker aspects of human nature. So that was thrilling, coming back knowing that I'd built the boat and now I could set sail into choppier waters.”

Inspirational Humans Funny Water Knowing Human Nature Built Aspect Incredibles Boat Sail Sailing Coming Back Thrilling Springboards

Author:Tom Hiddleston

“To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float.”

Ifs Inspirational Faith Water Freedom Human Nature Trust Relax Swim Swimming Have Faith Floating Floats Drowning Trust Yourself Sinking Hope And Faith Eye Opening Ocean Wave

Author:Alan Watts

“Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.”

Inspirational Water Freedom Inspiring Clear Human Nature Leaving Being Alone Muddy Clearing Leave Me Alone Freedom To Choose Loneliness And Solitude Eastern Philosophy Incubation

Book:The Way of Zen

Source: The Way of Zen

“Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container.”

People Humans Water Human Nature Shapes Containers

Author:Wallace Stevens

“What I am really saying is that you don’t need to do anything, because if you see yourself in the correct way, you are all as much extraordinary phenomenon of nature as trees, clouds, the patterns in running water, the flickering of fire, the arrangement of the stars, and the form of a galaxy. You are all just like that, and there is nothing wrong with you at all.”

Ifs Way Needs Running Form Stars Water Inspiring Fire Tree Human Nature Extraordinary Clouds Patterns Phenomenon Arrangements Galaxy Running Water

Book:Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation

Source: Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation

“People, like water, will run downhill, seeking their lowest level unless something interdicts them.”

People Running Water Levels Human Nature Adversity Seeking Lowest

Book:Death of Ethics in America

Source: Death of Ethics in America

“Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc., and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons.”

Thinking Believe Humans War Reason Play Water Car Human Nature Humility Building Fishes Mindset Etc Swim Ironic Smarter Dolphins Narrow-minded Start Wars

Author:Douglas Adams

“The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.”

Water Human Nature Flow Tendencies

Book:The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

Source: The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

“The hunter for aphorisms on human nature has to fish in muddy water, and he is even condemned to find much of his own mind.”

Mind Humans Water Human Nature Fishes Aphorism Hunters Muddy

Author:F. H. Bradley

“It is true that water will flow indifferently to east and west, but will it flow equally well up and down? Human nature is disposed toward goodness, just as water tends to flow downwards. There is no water but flows downwards, and no man but shows his tendency to be good. Now, by striking water hard, you may splash it higher than your forehead, and by damming it, you may make it go uphill. But, is that the nature of water? It is external force that causes it to do so. Likewise, if a man is made to do what is not good, his nature is being similarly forced.”

Ifs Men Humans Wells May Made Hard Shows Force Causes Water Human Nature Higher Goodness Flow West East Be Good Tendencies Up And Down Foreheads East And West External Forces

Author:Mencius