None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
The savage in man is never quite eradicated.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human nature contains an inherent wildness that cannot be entirely removed.
The quote by Henry David Thoreau suggests that within every individual lies a primal instinct or savage quality that exists alongside civilization. This inherent aspect of our humanity is not completely erased by societal norms or personal growth, indicating that the wildness of human nature is a fundamental part of who we are, no matter how much we strive for refinement and civility.
Themes
Human NatureSavageryCivilizationInstinctThoreau
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about human instincts during a psychology lecture.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
Henry David ThoreauRead
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
Henry David ThoreauRead
As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
Henry David ThoreauRead
That grand old poem called Winter
Henry David ThoreauRead
Similar quotes
Both of them were ahead of their time, but they didn't live long enough to see the time they were ahead of.
Patti SmithRead
Alienation as our present destiny is achieved only by outrageous violence perpetrated by human beings on human beings.
R. D. LaingRead
There are five dark matters and five lamps. Love of this world is darkness, and the fear of Allaah is its lamp. Sin is darkness, and its lamp is repentance. The grave is darkness, and its lamp is 'none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allaah.' The hereafter is darkness, and its lamp is the good deed. The Siraat is darkness, and its lamp is certainty of faith.
Abu BakrRead
The chief cause of human errors is to be found in the prejudices picked up in childhood.
Rene DescartesRead
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
Albert EinsteinRead
If each side had been frankly contending for its own real wish, they would all have kept within the bounds of reason and courtesy; but just because the contention is reversed and each side is fighting the other sideβs battle, all the bitterness which really flows from thwarted self-righteousness and obstinacy and from the accumulated grudges of the last ten years is concealed from them by the nominal or official "Unselfishness" of what they are doing or, at least, held to be excused by it.
C. S. LewisRead