--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is human nature to hate the man whom…" description: "\"It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.\" — Tacitus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg" --- # It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt. ![“It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.” quote by Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg) > “It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.” [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to resent those they have harmed. **In simple terms:** Hate follows hurting others. Key Takeaway Avoid causing harm to prevent resentment. Themes human nature empathy conflict Mood cautious insightful Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - team management Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Can forgiveness overcome this natural tendency? - How does power affect this dynamic? A Different Perspective Resentment can persist despite apologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“It is a principle of nature to hate those whom you have injured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-principle-of-nature-to-hate-those-whom-you-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [It is a principle of human nature to hate those whom we have injured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-principle-of-human-nature-to-hate-those-whom-we-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-belongs-to-human-nature-to-hate-those-you-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [It is a characteristic of the human mind to hate the man one has injured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-characteristic-of-the-human-mind-to-hate-the-man-one-has/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [One does not, by knowing all the physical laws as we know them today, immediately obtain an understanding of anything much. I love only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/one-does-not-by-knowing-all-the-physical-laws-as-we-know-them-today/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Decision making is tough because human nature is such that I hate to be wrong and I hate to take blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/decision-making-is-tough-because-human-nature-is-such-that-i-hate-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Subject to the law(s) of nature, hate is born to die”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/subject-to-the-law-s-of-nature-hate-is-born-to-die/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; by its very nature, love creates and builds up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/by-its-very-nature-hate-destroys-and-tears-down-by-its-very-nature/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I know nothing about nature. I hate nature, because it is killing me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bernhard/i-know-nothing-about-nature-i-hate-nature-because-it-is-killing-me/) [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) > [“An arrogant head of state gives permission to all nature of hate as long as it feeds his ambition. And the unfortunate truth is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/an-arrogant-head-of-state-gives-permission-to-all-nature-of-hate-as/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [I love only nature, and I hate mathematicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-love-only-nature-and-i-hate-mathematicians/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“Choke me to death with the hands of the man who hurt you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-diedrich/choke-me-to-death-with-the-hands-of-the-man-who-hurt-you/) [Kirk Diedrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-diedrich/) > [A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinion of what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-is-not-hurt-so-much-by-what-happens-as-by-his-opinion-of-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No man is hurt but by himself. ...Literally by how he interprets what happens to him. If he focusses on how it could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/no-man-is-hurt-but-by-himself-literally-by-how-he-interprets-what/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“When a rich man is hurt, his wail goeth heavens high. (Sancho Panza)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/when-a-rich-man-is-hurt-his-wail-goeth-heavens-high-sancho-panza/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) ## More by Tacitus > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Rumor does not always err; it sometimes even elects a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/rumor-does-not-always-err-it-sometimes-even-elects-a-man/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-than-those-who-most-rejoice-at-it-a/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee. And those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/be-assured-those-will-be-thy-worst-enemies-not-to-whom-thou-hast-done/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Christianity is a pestilent superstition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/christianity-is-a-pestilent-superstition/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Indeed, the crowning proof of their valour and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/indeed-the-crowning-proof-of-their-valour-and-their-strength-is-that/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Formerly we suffered from crimes; now we suffer from laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/formerly-we-suffered-from-crimes-now-we-suffer-from-laws/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously over the death of Germanicus than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-over-the-death-of-germanicus-than/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/once-killing-starts-it-is-difficult-to-draw-the-line/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The lust of dominion burns with a flame so fierce as to overpower all other affections of the human breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/the-lust-of-dominion-burns-with-a-flame-so-fierce-as-to-overpower-all/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“It is a principle of nature to hate those whom you have injured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-a-principle-of-nature-to-hate-those-whom-you-have-injured/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Kindness, so far as we can return it, is agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/kindness-so-far-as-we-can-return-it-is-agreeable/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Posterity gives every man his true value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/posterity-gives-every-man-his-true-value/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [The most detestable race of enemies are flatterers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/the-most-detestable-race-of-enemies-are-flatterers/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) [Explore all 227 Tacitus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) ## More Hate quotes > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I do so hate to be forced to be anything than other than what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/i-do-so-hate-to-be-forced-to-be-anything-than-other-than-what-i-am/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [I hate watching myself speak German, it's painful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/i-hate-watching-myself-speak-german-it-s-painful/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britain has united to send a strong message to anyone who seeks to peddle hate. Together we are stronger. Together we can beat hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/britain-has-united-to-send-a-strong-message-to-anyone-who-seeks-to/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [I've got the long hair and kind of androgynous look. It's love-hate; it's sexy, but not sexy. So it's either you get it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/i-ve-got-the-long-hair-and-kind-of-androgynous-look-it-s-love-hate-it/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) [Browse all 17,830 Hate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tacitus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom-you-have-hurt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom-you-have-hurt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/tacitus-1552_hate_it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom_2862287.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.” — Tacitus", "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": "Tacitus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is human nature to hate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom-you-have-hurt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/it-is-human-nature-to-hate-the-man-whom-you-have-hurt/#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 } } ] } ```