--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings are rat-cunning and will…" description: "\"“Human beings are rat-cunning and will happily kill you twice over for a hot meal. That’s what long observation has taught me. On the other hand, with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/marcel-theroux-26386_food_human-beings-are-rat-cunning-and-will-ha_859786.jpg" --- # Human beings are rat-cunning and will happily kill you… ![“Human beings are rat-cunning and will happily kill you twice over for a hot meal. That’s what long observation has taught me. On the other hand, with a full belly, and a good harvest in the barn, and a fire in the hearth, there’s nothing so charming, so generous, no one more decent than a well-fed…” quote by Marcel Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/marcel-theroux-26386_food_human-beings-are-rat-cunning-and-will-ha_859786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/marcel-theroux-26386_food_human-beings-are-rat-cunning-and-will-ha_859786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/marcel-theroux-26386_food_human-beings-are-rat-cunning-and-will-ha_859786.jpg) > ““Human beings are rat-cunning and will happily kill you twice over for a hot meal. That’s what long observation has taught me. On the other hand, with a full belly, and a good harvest in the barn, and a fire in the hearth, there’s nothing so charming, so generous, no one more decent than a well-fed man. But”” [Marcel Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-theroux/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human behavior shifts dramatically with scarcity versus abundance, influencing morality and generosity. **In simple terms:** People act selfishly when hungry, but become kind when well fed. Key Takeaway Recognize how basic needs affect actions. Themes human nature scarcity abundance morality generosity Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - hunger crises - resource distribution - community meals - economic policy - conflict resolution Key Concepts survival instinct social behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does scarcity shape ethical choices? - Can abundance guarantee kindness? A Different Perspective Even when fed, other factors like culture shape behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) ## Related quotes > [“People happily kill other people in the name of everything from a god to a country to an overly developed sense of annoyance when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gethers/people-happily-kill-other-people-in-the-name-of-everything-from-a-god/) Peter Gethers > [What every human being should do is eat a vegetarian diet based on whole foods. Period. That's it. 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