--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ah, how unjust to Nature and himself Is…" description: "\"Ah, how unjust to Nature and himself Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man!\" — Edward Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/edward-young-1446_inconsistent_ah-how-unjust-to-nature-and-himself-is-t_2817385.png" --- # Ah, how unjust to Nature and himself Is thoughtless… ![“Ah, how unjust to Nature and himself Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man!” quote by Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/edward-young-1446_inconsistent_ah-how-unjust-to-nature-and-himself-is-t_2817385.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/edward-young-1446_inconsistent_ah-how-unjust-to-nature-and-himself-is-t_2817385.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/edward-young-1446_inconsistent_ah-how-unjust-to-nature-and-himself-is-t_2817385.png) > “Ah, how unjust to Nature and himself Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man!” [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet laments humanity’s inconsistency and ingratitude toward nature, portraying it as an unjust, thoughtless force. **In simple terms:** Nature is portrayed as unfair and ungrateful. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect nature’s inherent value. Themes nature justice human folly philosophical environmental ethics Mood somber reflective critical Type literary ethical When to use this quote - environmental activism - literary analysis - personal reflection - policy debate Key Concepts Romanticism moral philosophy ecocriticism Questions to Reflect On - How can we reconcile human responsibility with nature’s indifference? - What actions reflect respect for the natural world? A Different Perspective The view may anthropomorphize nature. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ah Unjust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ah-unjust-3562930/) [Inconsistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistent/) [Inconsistent Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistent-man-3562928/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Thoughtless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-thoughtless-3562929/) [Thankless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankless/) [Unjust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unjust/) [Unjust Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unjust-nature-1210391/) ## Related quotes > [“When men follow justice the city blooms, the earth bears rich harvests, and children and flocks increase; but for the unjust all nature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-henry-dawson/when-men-follow-justice-the-city-blooms-the-earth-bears-rich-harvests/) [Christopher Henry Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-henry-dawson/) > [It's not always thankless. Let's face it - it's not always thankless. I've gotten a lot of really great recognition and I've worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-sedgwick/it-s-not-always-thankless-let-s-face-it-it-s-not-always-thankless-i/) [Kyra Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-sedgwick/) > [Don’t get me wrong. Being a mom is no picnic. Raising the kids is the mother’s responsibility. 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Show them life, and they’ll find within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/never-try-to-convey-your-idea-to-the-audience-it-is-a-thankless-and/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I started volunteering at an animal shelter, and little by little, my life started getting better. I think that is the secret. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcnamara/i-started-volunteering-at-an-animal-shelter-and-little-by-little-my/) [William McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcnamara/) > [“it’s a thankless job, telling people it’s a hard, hard Universe they’re in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/it-s-a-thankless-job-telling-people-it-s-a-hard-hard-universe-they-re/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Scarlett O'Hara is going to be a thankless and difficult role. 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Trying to organize or manage such awkward characters is normally as thankless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naughton/computer-programmers-tend-by-and-large-to-be-quirky-and-highly/) [John Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naughton/) > [In spite of its romantic frisson, the position of muse is very vague and largely thankless for the muse herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-roiphe/in-spite-of-its-romantic-frisson-the-position-of-muse-is-very-vague/) [Katie Roiphe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-roiphe/) > [Meddling with another man's folly is always thankless work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/meddling-with-another-man-s-folly-is-always-thankless-work/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [We need to reward the 'thankless job' of substitute teaching with better pay and chances for permanent positions. I look forward to the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/we-need-to-reward-the-thankless-job-of-substitute-teaching-with/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I have some friends who are actors. I've watched them work. And I would say that of all the arts, acting is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-have-some-friends-who-are-actors-i-ve-watched-them-work-and-i-would/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [We are surrounded every day by people who do thankless but important work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kilmeade/we-are-surrounded-every-day-by-people-who-do-thankless-but-important/) [Brian Kilmeade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kilmeade/) ## More by Edward Young > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The spirit walks of every day deceased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-spirit-walks-of-every-day-deceased/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Tomorrow is a satire on today, And shows its weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/tomorrow-is-a-satire-on-today-and-shows-its-weakness/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Be wise with speed; a fool at forty is a fool indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/be-wise-with-speed-a-fool-at-forty-is-a-fool-indeed/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/procrastination-is-the-thief-of-time-year-after-year-it-steals-till/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [ \[The\] public path of life Is dirty. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-public-path-of-life-is-dirty/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He mourns the dead who lives as they desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-mourns-the-dead-who-lives-as-they-desire/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Too low they build who build below the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/too-low-they-build-who-build-below-the-skies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britannia's shame! There took her gloomy flight, On wing impetuous, a black sullen soul . Less base the fear of death than fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/britannia-s-shame-there-took-her-gloomy-flight-on-wing-impetuous-a/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileg'd beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-chamber-where-the-good-man-meets-his-fate-is-privileg-d-beyond/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Some go to Church, proud humbly to repent, And come back much more guilty than they went: One way they look, another way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/some-go-to-church-proud-humbly-to-repent-and-come-back-much-more/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [He that is ungrateful has no guilt but one; all other crimes may pass for virtues in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/he-that-is-ungrateful-has-no-guilt-but-one-all-other-crimes-may-pass/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank, and puts her trust in miracles for safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/the-maid-that-loves-goes-out-to-sea-upon-a-shattered-plank-and-puts/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) [Explore all 238 Edward Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More Inconsistent quotes > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. 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I did it because I didn't want animals to die so I could eat. Then, eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-simon/i-have-been-a-vegetarian-for-forty-two-years-i-did-it-because-i-didn/) [Sam Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-simon/) > [Naturalism aimed at giving the primitive wishes full play but failed because these wishes are too primitive, too infantile, too inconsistent with themselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-desmond-bernal/naturalism-aimed-at-giving-the-primitive-wishes-full-play-but-failed/) [John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-desmond-bernal/) > [OLD, adj. In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as an "old man". Discredited by lapse of time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/old-adj-in-that-stage-of-usefulness-which-is-not-inconsistent-with/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/the-practice-of-executing-such-offenders-is-a-relic-of-the-past-and/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [When everyone is playing the same way, maybe that doesn't matter as much. But when they're a couple of guys that are inconsistent, kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/when-everyone-is-playing-the-same-way-maybe-that-doesn-t-matter-as/) [T. J. 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