Age Quote by Honore de Balzac
“The habits of every animal are, at least in the eyes of man, constantly similar in all ages. But the habits, the clothes, the words and the dwelling of a prince, a banker, an artist, a bourgeois, a priest and a pauper, are wholly dissimilar and change at the will of civilizations.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Comedy by Honoré de Balzac, 1830s
Human behavior remains constant across ages, while social status symbols shift with civilization.
In simple terms: People act similarly, but their outward signs differ over time.
Recognize core human nature beyond superficial differences.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- social research
- anthropological fieldwork
- policy making
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you see core human traits beyond status symbols?
- What social signs change most rapidly?
Superficial differences can obscure deeper commonalities, leading to misinterpretation.