Sad as it is, we cannot conceal the fact that in spite of…
““Sad as it is, we cannot conceal the fact that in spite of our companionship with flowers we have not risen very far above the brute. Scratch the sheepskin and the wolf within us will soon show his teeth. It has been said that a man at ten is an animal, at twenty a lunatic, at thirty a failure, at forty a fraud, and at fifty a criminal. Perhaps he becomes a criminal because he has never ceased to be an animal. Nothing is real to us but hunger, nothing sacred except our own desires. Shrine after shrine has crumbled before our eyes; but one altar if forever preserved, that whereon we burn incense to the supreme idol,-ourselves. Our god is great, and money is his Prophet! We devastate nature in order to make sacrifice to him. We boast that we have conquered Matter and forget that it is Matter that has enslaved us. What atrocities do we not perpetrate in the name of culture and refinement!””
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 is driven by selfish desire, leading to destruction of nature and culture in pursuit of power and wealth.
In simple terms: Desire fuels selfishness and ruin.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and temper selfish impulses.
Themes
human nature
environment
power
culture
materialism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- environmental activism
- ethical business practices
- cultural preservation
- personal mindfulness
Key Concepts
existentialism
critique of capitalism
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal actions can counteract selfish impulses?
- How can societies value nature over profit?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook altruistic human capacities.