Our humanity is a poor thing, except for the divinity that stirs within us.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them.
—German Proverb
Humanity I love you because when you’re hard up you pawn your intelligence to buy a drink.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
We cannot despair of humanity, since we ourselves are human beings.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
We are, to put it mildly, in a mess, and there is a strong chance that we shall have exterminated ourselves by the end of the century. Our only consolation will have to be that, as a species, we have had an exciting term of office.
—Desmond Morris (b.1928) English Ethologist, Writer
Human affairs are not serious, but they have to be taken seriously.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
Don’t look back, just keep on walking.
—Unknown
The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened, and decorated by the intellect of man.
—Charles Sumner (1811–74) American Lawyer, Statesman
Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
You can’t plow a field by turning it over in your mind.
—Unknown
The human race is a zone of living things that should be defined by tracing its confines.
—Italo Calvino (1923–85) Italian Novelist, Essayist, Journalist
The best way to get something done is to begin.
—Unknown
Better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed.
—Indian Proverb
Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Let me look into a human eye; it is better than to gaze into sea or sky; better than to gaze upon God.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Then indecision brings its own delays, And days are lost lamenting o’er lost days. Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute; What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Action speaks louder than words, but not nearly as often.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Either a beast or a god.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Be tolerant of the human race. Your whole family belongs to it—and some of your spouse’s family does too.
—Unknown
Cruelty has a Human Heart, And jealousy a Human Face; Terror the Human Form Divine, And secrecy the Human Dress. The Human Dress is forged Iron, The Human Form a Fiery Forge, The Human Face a Furnace seal d, The Human Heart its hungry gorge.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
The age of chivalry has gone; the age of humanity has come.
—Charles Sumner (1811–74) American Lawyer, Statesman
I wish I loved the Human Race; I wish I loved its silly face; I wish I liked the way it walks; I wish I liked the way it talks; And when I’m introduced to one I wish I thought What Jolly Fun!
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
No rules for success will work if you don’t.
—Unknown
Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Man… knows only when he is satisfied and when he suffers, and only his sufferings and his satisfactions instruct him concerning himself, teach him what to seek and what to avoid. For the rest, man is a confused creature; he knows not whence he comes or whither he goes, he knows little of the world, and above all, he knows little of himself.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Mankind is not a circle with a single center but an ellipse with two focal points of which facts are one and ideas the other.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
The law of humanity ought to be composed of the past, the present, and the future, that we bear within us; whoever possesses but one of these terms, has but a fragment of the law of the moral world.
—Edgar Quinet (1803–75) French Historian, Poet
A human being is a single being. Unique and unrepeatable.
—Eileen Caddy (1917–2006) British Spiritual Teacher
The real man is one who always finds excuses for others, but never excuses himself.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Leave a Reply