To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous HuxleyRead
The impulse to cruelty is, in many people, almost as violent as the impulse to sexual love - almost as violent and much more mischievous.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the dangerous and mischievous nature of human impulses, suggesting that the tendency toward cruelty can be as strong as that of love.
Aldous Huxley's quote suggests that the innate human tendencies towards cruelty and sexual love are both powerful forces, yet the impulse to be cruel carries a more disruptive potential. Huxley is warning us to recognize not only our capacity for love but also the darker aspects of our nature that can cause harm to others. This acknowledgment of the duality of human impulses encourages a deeper understanding of human behavior and morality.
Themes
CrueltyLoveHuman NatureImpulseMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about human behavior, this quote can illustrate the complexity of our emotions and actions.
More from Aldous Huxley
All quotes →Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
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In the course of history many more people have died for their drink and their dope than have died for their religion or their country.
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On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
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No man ever dared to manifest his boredom so insolently as does a Siamese tomcat when he yawns in the face of his amorously importunate wife.
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The leech's kiss, the squid's embrace, The prurient ape's defiling touch: And do you like the human race? No, not much.
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