Beast Quote by William Shakespeare
“What is a man, if his chief good and market of his time be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more. Sure he that made us with such large discourse, looking before and after, gave us not that capability and god-like reason to fust in us unused.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2, 1601
Human beings are distinguished by reflective thought, not by base animal instincts; we should use our reason rather than merely satisfy basic needs.
In simple terms: Reason separates us from beasts.
Key Takeaway
Use your mind, not just your appetite.
Themes
human nature
reason
self‑actualization
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- education
- leadership
- creative work
Key Concepts
existentialism
philosophy
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- What higher purpose will you pursue today?
- How can you balance basic needs with intellectual growth?
A Different Perspective
Reason can be ignored by comfort or fear.
![“No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb [Earth] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic beasts.” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d65/olaf-stapledon-9950_angel_no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-anoth_12107.jpg)
