--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man's instincts are evil…" description: "\"“When a man's instincts are evil, repentance has a short lease and brief is his gratitude towards those who have done him good.”\" — Khuswant Singh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg" --- # When a man's instincts are evil, repentance has a short… ![“When a man's instincts are evil, repentance has a short lease and brief is his gratitude towards those who have done him good.” quote by Khuswant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg) > ““When a man's instincts are evil, repentance has a short lease and brief is his gratitude towards those who have done him good.”” [Khuswant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khuswant-singh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evil instincts limit sincere gratitude and repentance, making thankfulness fleeting. **In simple terms:** Bad instincts shorten gratitude and repentance. Key Takeaway Cultivate good instincts for lasting gratitude. Themes gratitude repentance morality human nature Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - community service - conflict resolution - moral education - self-reflection Key Concepts ethics psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - How do instincts shape our gratitude? - Can repentance be genuine without change? A Different Perspective Good intentions may not overcome deep-seated evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brief Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brief-gratitude-2079845/) [Delhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delhi/) [Evil Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-repentance-2079844/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [History-of-mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-of-mankind/) [Man Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-instincts-236034/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Repentance Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-short-2079843/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature . . . what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What makes a man is when you go against your own instincts to do to the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/what-makes-a-man-is-when-you-go-against-your-own-instincts-to-do-to/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [“History is not a bad thing. It just reminds us what to do and what not to do in the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mitchell/history-is-not-a-bad-thing-it-just-reminds-us-what-to-do-and-what-not/) [Phil MItchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mitchell/) > [“Years later, as a professor, Martin would try to find the words to articulate the power of togetherness in a world where togetherness had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-shattuck/years-later-as-a-professor-martin-would-try-to-find-the-words-to/) [Jessica Shattuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-shattuck/) > [“History was interesting to the extent that it was catastrophic and, while that might make absorbing viewing, it made horrible living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/history-was-interesting-to-the-extent-that-it-was-catastrophic-and/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“So perhaps happiness is synchronizing one's personal delusions of meaning with the prevailing collective delusions. As long as my personal narrative is in line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/so-perhaps-happiness-is-synchronizing-one-s-personal-delusions-of/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“If you don’t know history, you don’t know anything.” Edward Johnston”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-puz/if-you-don-t-know-history-you-don-t-know-anything-edward-johnston/) [Richard Puz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-puz/) > [“It takes a long time for people like Vorbis to die. They leave echoes in history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-takes-a-long-time-for-people-like-vorbis-to-die-they-leave-echoes/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But in its extreme form, belief in the free market is as naive as belief in Santa Claus. There simply is no such thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/but-in-its-extreme-form-belief-in-the-free-market-is-as-naive-as/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“History is little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind." --- Edward Gibbon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/history-is-little-more-than-the-register-of-the-crimes-follies-and/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [“Many collectors died in process of searching for new species, and despite persistent reports that the men died from drowning, gunshot and knife wounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hansen/many-collectors-died-in-process-of-searching-for-new-species-and/) [Eric Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hansen/) > [“History shapes the lives of all men, women and children ... sometimes unraveling humanity into an undesired mess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-i-fisher/history-shapes-the-lives-of-all-men-women-and-children-sometimes/) [Lynda I Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-i-fisher/) > [“Advances in technology can be empowering, progressive and enriching. History has shown this across civilisations and societies. But it has also shown, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/advances-in-technology-can-be-empowering-progressive-and-enriching/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [“History is the mighty tower of experience, which time has built amidst the endless fields of bygone ages. - Forward”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-willem-van-loon/history-is-the-mighty-tower-of-experience-which-time-has-built-amidst/) [Hendrik Willem van Loon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-willem-van-loon/) ## More by Khuswant Singh > [“There is no crime in anyone’s blood any more than there is goodness in the blood of others. Criminals are not born. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khuswant-singh/there-is-no-crime-in-anyone-s-blood-any-more-than-there-is-goodness/) [Khuswant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khuswant-singh/) [Explore all 2 Khuswant Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khuswant-singh/) ## More Delhi quotes > [I grew up in Mumbai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/i-grew-up-in-mumbai/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [Hyderabad is a hot city, with hot food and hot people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/hyderabad-is-a-hot-city-with-hot-food-and-hot-people/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [Mumbai and its people are full of warmth and love - it has the best qualities of all the cities in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/mumbai-and-its-people-are-full-of-warmth-and-love-it-has-the-best/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > ['Pink,' which is set in Delhi, is not women-centric but a youth film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/pink-which-is-set-in-delhi-is-not-women-centric-but-a-youth-film/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [I was born in Ambala Cantt., but my parents belong to Palwal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/i-was-born-in-ambala-cantt-but-my-parents-belong-to-palwal/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [Usually, I come for film promotions or events, but I have so many fond memories of Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/usually-i-come-for-film-promotions-or-events-but-i-have-so-many-fond/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [“Actor Nani feels at home in Chennai, especially after the blockbuster Naan Ee. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/actor-nani-feels-at-home-in-chennai-especially-after-the-blockbuster/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I realised that Delhiites have a very different style of talking, which is sweet, but only a Dilliwala can speak like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-realised-that-delhiites-have-a-very-different-style-of-talking/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [Many suggested I should move to Hyderabad. But I prefer remaining in Chennai and travelling to and fro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kovai-sarala/many-suggested-i-should-move-to-hyderabad-but-i-prefer-remaining-in/) [Kovai Sarala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kovai-sarala/) > [Kolkata is a musical city. What I like about people here is the lack of diplomacy. Some of the best Indian classical musicians belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukhwinder-singh/kolkata-is-a-musical-city-what-i-like-about-people-here-is-the-lack/) [Sukhwinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukhwinder-singh/) > [I definitely feel more attached to Kolkata than anywhere else in India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-guha/i-definitely-feel-more-attached-to-kolkata-than-anywhere-else-in-india/) [Isa Guha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-guha/) > [I feel I haven't quite settled in Mumbai. One, it is a cultural shock for me and two, I feel no one really has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/i-feel-i-haven-t-quite-settled-in-mumbai-one-it-is-a-cultural-shock/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [I always capture one aspect or the other of Delhi in my raps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raftaar/i-always-capture-one-aspect-or-the-other-of-delhi-in-my-raps/) [Raftaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raftaar/) > [Shooting in Jaipur was one of the best experiences of my life. The city is culturally quite rich, and each part of it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaheer-sheikh/shooting-in-jaipur-was-one-of-the-best-experiences-of-my-life-the/) [Shaheer Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaheer-sheikh/) > [Whenever I get three-four days in hand, I fly down to Delhi to spend time with my family and my dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-gupta/whenever-i-get-three-four-days-in-hand-i-fly-down-to-delhi-to-spend/) [Esha Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-gupta/) [Browse all 744 Delhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delhi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When a man's instincts are evil, repentance has a short lease and brief is his gratitude towards those who have done him good.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Khuswant Singh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khuswant-singh/when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentance-has-a-short-lease-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delhi" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khuswant-singh/when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentance-has-a-short-lease-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e2/khuswant-singh-94371_delhi_when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentan_198475.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When a man's instincts are evil, repentance has a short lease and brief is his gratitude towards those who…” — Khuswant Singh", "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": "Khuswant Singh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khuswant-singh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When a man's instincts are evil,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khuswant-singh/when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentance-has-a-short-lease-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khuswant-singh/when-a-man-s-instincts-are-evil-repentance-has-a-short-lease-and/#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 } } ] } ```