--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The natural human reaction is to greet…" description: "\"The natural human reaction is to greet hatred with hatred, revenge by revenge. That's the natural genetic reaction.\" — David Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/david-brooks-644_hatred_the-natural-human-reaction-is-to-greet-h_2070603.png" --- # The natural human reaction is to greet hatred with hatred… ![“The natural human reaction is to greet hatred with hatred, revenge by revenge. That's the natural genetic reaction.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/david-brooks-644_hatred_the-natural-human-reaction-is-to-greet-h_2070603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/david-brooks-644_hatred_the-natural-human-reaction-is-to-greet-h_2070603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/david-brooks-644_hatred_the-natural-human-reaction-is-to-greet-h_2070603.png) > “The natural human reaction is to greet hatred with hatred, revenge by revenge. That's the natural genetic reaction.” [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People instinctively respond to hatred with more hatred, a biological reflex that perpetuates conflict. **In simple terms:** Hatred breeds more hatred. Key Takeaway Break the cycle of retaliation. Themes conflict human nature violence Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal disputes - political rhetoric - online harassment Key Concepts psychology genetics social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - Can you choose compassion over retaliation? - What strategies break the hatred cycle? A Different Perspective Such reactions can be overridden by conscious choice and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) ## Related quotes > [Through the miracle of natural genetic recombination, each child, with the sole exception of an identical twin, is conceived as a unique being. 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We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [The hatred of those who are near to us is the most violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-cornelius-tacitus/the-hatred-of-those-who-are-near-to-us-is-the-most-violent/) [Publius Cornelius Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-cornelius-tacitus/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [Too many years of feeling degraded now hatred's the only feeling that comes~~~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-many-years-of-feeling-degraded-now-hatred-s-the-only-feeling-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“It’s a continual revelation when you come to understand that the only thing you can expect in return for your own dignity is hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/it-s-a-continual-revelation-when-you-come-to-understand-that-the-only/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [Hate is a lack of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/hate-is-a-lack-of-imagination/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. 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