Bah, bah!’ cried the old man petulantly. ‘Human nature is…
““Bah, bah!’ cried the old man petulantly. ‘Human nature is the same in all ages and countries. Every day—every city—produces some monstrous wickedness, secret or discovered, arising from the triumphs of ungoverned passion;—from hatred,—lust,—revenge,—or mere blood-thirstiness. The crime in which this piece of ruthless machinery had its rise, was done in my own lifetime, in a place which I weekly and calmly traverse. The perpetrator went down to the grave, I will not say unpunished, but undiscovered. No one pitied the victim,—no one cursed the assassin. The whole story is, and is better, buried in oblivion.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human nature repeatedly produces cruelty across time, driven by uncontrolled passions like hatred, lust, and revenge, often unnoticed and unpunished.
In simple terms: People constantly create evil due to unchecked desires.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and curb destructive impulses.
Themes
human nature
evil
passion
justice
history
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- urban life
- personal reflection
- historical analysis
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
moral decay
psychology
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives people to commit hidden crimes?
- How can societies better address unchecked passions?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize and ignore positive aspects of humanity.