--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps it is only human nature to…" description: "\"Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png" --- # Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on… ![“Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png) > “Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings often cause pain to those who cannot defend themselves, driven by cruelty, indifference, or powerlessness. **In simple terms:** People hurt the vulnerable. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy and protect the weak. Themes ethics power vulnerability Mood concerned reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - workplace bullying - social injustice - animal welfare Key Concepts psychology moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize when you cause harm? - What actions protect those who cannot protect themselves? A Different Perspective Some suffering is unintentional, not always malicious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-bullying/) [Helplessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helplessness/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with Soul Force. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-will-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-with-our-capacity-to/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“we shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-shall-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-by-our-capacity-to-2/) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr > [It is my hope that as the Negro plunges deeper into the quest for freedom and justice he will plunge even deeper into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-my-hope-that-as-the-negro-plunges-deeper-into-the-quest-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-shall-match-your-capacity-to-inflict-suffering-by-our-capacity-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I had no way of anticipating the adjustments I would have to make and the suffering I would have to endure in the months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-sittser/i-had-no-way-of-anticipating-the-adjustments-i-would-have-to-make-and/) [Jerry Sittser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-sittser/) > [“Jealousy is not at all low, but it catches us humbled and bowed down, at first sight. 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One reason for our existence is to contribute something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cates/going-against-what-we-recognize-is-true-for-us-results-in-regret/) [Regina Cates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cates/) > [Why should anyone - the state, the medical profession, or anyone else - presume to tell someone else how much suffering they must endure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/why-should-anyone-the-state-the-medical-profession-or-anyone-else/) [Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/) > [If a person wants to be hurt and enjoys suffering, then there is no reason not to indulge him in his wont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/if-a-person-wants-to-be-hurt-and-enjoys-suffering-then-there-is-no/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I can't prove to you that there is a God, I just know. All this suffering has to have a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-hillman/i-can-t-prove-to-you-that-there-is-a-god-i-just-know-all-this/) Laura Hillman > [“The most wonderful things in life will be difficult. There is so shortcut, no easy way out. Success will be grueling. But the feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-peters/the-most-wonderful-things-in-life-will-be-difficult-there-is-so/) Ally Peters > [Man is the individualised expression or reflection of God imaged forth and made manifest in bodily form. How is it, then, I hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-trine/man-is-the-individualised-expression-or-reflection-of-god-imaged/) [Ralph Waldo Trine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-trine/) > [“What is the cause of suffering in the human being? Why is it that human beings have such a difficult time putting their suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/what-is-the-cause-of-suffering-in-the-human-being-why-is-it-that/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [I wish we didn't have to own up to a policy deliberately designed to inflict suffering on people who have already been traumatised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/i-wish-we-didn-t-have-to-own-up-to-a-policy-deliberately-designed-to/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Anti bullying quotes > [The only fight you can't lose is the one you don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-fight-you-can-t-lose-is-the-one-you-don-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bullying needs to be stopped. If you see something, say something. Do not be a bystander!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manwar-khan-canadian-anti-bullying-activist/bullying-needs-to-be-stopped-if-you-see-something-say-something-do/) Manwar Khan Canadian Anti-bullying Activist > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“Make good choices and always do your best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-capitelli/make-good-choices-and-always-do-your-best/) Yvonne Capitelli > [Never criticize someone you never personally knew. For in time, you might find yourself to be in a much worse situation than the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-ramirez/never-criticize-someone-you-never-personally-knew-for-in-time-you/) [Jazz Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-ramirez/) > [Calling someone fat wont make you any skinnier, calling someone dumb dosnt make you any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mean-girls/calling-someone-fat-wont-make-you-any-skinnier-calling-someone-dumb/) [Mean Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mean-girls/) > [Cant break me down, bury me bury me, I am finished with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/30-seconds-to-mars/cant-break-me-down-bury-me-bury-me-i-am-finished-with-you/) [30 Seconds To Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/30-seconds-to-mars/) > [If they talk about you behind your back that means youre ahead of them:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra/if-they-talk-about-you-behind-your-back-that-means-youre-ahead-of-them/) [Sandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra/) > [You should never judge people based on your own assumptions of that person before meeting them, lest reality smacks you upside the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/you-should-never-judge-people-based-on-your-own-assumptions-of-that/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [When I became a part of Be a STAR and now with Do Something coming together with WWE, we have a much further range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheamus/when-i-became-a-part-of-be-a-star-and-now-with-do-something-coming/) [Sheamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheamus/) > [Labels are meant to be on soup cans, not people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/labels-are-meant-to-be-on-soup-cans-not-people/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [If you let a bully intimidate you, he's going to do it again. You've got to stand up to these strong-arm tactics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-djou/if-you-let-a-bully-intimidate-you-he-s-going-to-do-it-again-you-ve/) Charles Djou > [The fact that the WWE is so involved in anti-bullying, it's really an honor to be involved with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/the-fact-that-the-wwe-is-so-involved-in-anti-bullying-it-s-really-an/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [The truth is that everyone is put on this earth with a purpose, a purpose of life, love, wisdom, and friendship. There will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah/the-truth-is-that-everyone-is-put-on-this-earth-with-a-purpose-a/) [Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah/) > [Any anti-bullying scheme, initiative or policy which fails to mention accountability for the bullies is likely to meet with little, and often no, success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/any-anti-bullying-scheme-initiative-or-policy-which-fails-to-mention/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) [Browse all 159 Anti bullying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-bullying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anti bullying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/honor-de-balzac-197_anti-bullying_perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-infli_165490.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by…” — Honore de Balzac", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Perhaps it is only human nature...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-it-is-only-human-nature-to-inflict-suffering-on-anything-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```