--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that one really knows…" description: "\"The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/oscar-wilde-16_change_the-only-thing-that-one-really-knows-abo_2445552.jpg" --- # The only thing that one really knows about human nature is… ![“The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/oscar-wilde-16_change_the-only-thing-that-one-really-knows-abo_2445552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/oscar-wilde-16_change_the-only-thing-that-one-really-knows-abo_2445552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/oscar-wilde-16_change_the-only-thing-that-one-really-knows-abo_2445552.jpg) > “The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is inherently changeable; we can predict its variability but not its constancy. **In simple terms:** People always change. Key Takeaway Accept change as a constant in life. Themes human nature change uncertainty Mood thoughtful neutral Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career shifts - societal trends - personal development Key Concepts philosophy psychology sociology Questions to Reflect On - How do you adapt when someone you know changes? - What strategies help you cope with inevitable change? A Different Perspective Predicting specific behaviors remains impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Thought provoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-provoking/) ## Related quotes > [“The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. Change is the one quality we can predicate of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-thing-that-one-really-knows-about-human-nature-is-that-it-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Mother nature changes her looks for the same reason any woman changes her looks—to be noticed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/mother-nature-changes-her-looks-for-the-same-reason-any-woman-changes/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Because human nature never changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/because-human-nature-never-changes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [History repeats itself in the large because human nature changes with geological leisureliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/history-repeats-itself-in-the-large-because-human-nature-changes-with/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [Nature often changes itself, only you don't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voeun-tivea/nature-often-changes-itself-only-you-don-t-change/) [Voeun Tivea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voeun-tivea/) > [Human nature, if it changes at all, changes not much faster than the geological face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/human-nature-if-it-changes-at-all-changes-not-much-faster-than-the/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Twilight - a time of pause when nature changes her guard. All living things would fade and die from too much light or too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/twilight-a-time-of-pause-when-nature-changes-her-guard-all-living/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [Because I'm a man who works, who knows what a human being is like inside, who knows that every human being has his worth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/because-i-m-a-man-who-works-who-knows-what-a-human-being-is-like/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [That is my theory to explain the I don't knows. It's human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/that-is-my-theory-to-explain-the-i-don-t-knows-it-s-human/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [“You are the one who knows more than any human being about yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-mosoatsi/you-are-the-one-who-knows-more-than-any-human-being-about-yourself/) [Ezekiel Mosoatsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-mosoatsi/) > [The redefined physician is human, knows she's human, accepts it ... and she works in a culture of medicine that acknowledges that human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-redefined-physician-is-human-knows-she-s-human-accepts-it-and-she/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous-psalmist-of-the-94th/the-lord-knows-all-human-plans-he-knows-that-they-are-futile/) Anonymous Psalmist of the 94th > [No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/no-man-really-knows-about-other-human-beings-the-best-he-can-do-is-to-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“It's amazing that someone who knows so much about the human body can know so little about people. I think it's time we laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-adam-shapiro/it-s-amazing-that-someone-who-knows-so-much-about-the-human-body-can/) Dana Adam Shapiro > [“No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself. What a frightening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/no-man-really-knows-about-other-human-beings-the-best-he-can-do-is-to/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing that one really knows about human nature is that it changes. 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