Animal Quote by William Hazlitt
“Man is an intellectual animal, and therefore an everlasting contradiction to himself. His senses centre in himself, his ideas reach to the ends of the universe; so that he is torn in pieces between the two, without a possibility of its ever being otherwise.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "On the Pleasure of Hating" by William Hazlitt, 1819
Human nature is split between sensory self‑interest and boundless intellectual ambition, creating perpetual inner conflict.
In simple terms: Mind and senses clash, causing inner tension.
Accept the tension and seek balance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- creative work
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile personal desire with larger ideas?
- Can tension be a source of growth?
Balancing may may limit creative freedom.