Business Quote by Donna Lynn Hope
““No, we aren't civilized, even in our business suits and high heels. People are as mean as ever, and as predictable. Underneath it all, we are not so different from what lurks in the wild, perhaps we're worse.””
About This Quote
Human nature remains selfish and predatory despite social veneer, suggesting civilization masks innate animal instincts.
In simple terms: People are still selfish under civilization.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and curb our baser instincts.
Themes
human nature
civilization
predation
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- corporate culture
- political leadership
- social media
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
sociology
psychology
evolutionary biology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power influence our moral behavior?
- Can civility be cultivated deliberately?
A Different Perspective
Not all societal structures are equally corrupt; some foster altruism.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)