To insult someone we call him 'bestial. For deliberate cruelty and nature, 'human' might be the greater insult.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that cruelty is a more human trait than the animalistic nature often attributed to us.
Isaac Asimov emphasizes the paradox of human behavior by contrasting the terms 'bestial' and 'human.' While bestial implies a lack of rationality and morality, Asimov argues that the calculated and deliberate cruelty that some humans exhibit is far more sinister, indicating that it is our humanity that can lead to the darkest actions.
In practice
In a debate about human nature, this quote could illustrate the depths of human cruelty.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting everyone else to give it up.
One of the most important decisions you'll ever make is choosing the kind of universe you exist in: is it helpful and supportive or hostile and unsupportive? Your answer to this question will make all the difference in terms of how you live your life and what kind of Divine assistance you attract.
Ending poverty calls for humility, honesty, freedom from ideology and refusal to accept cruel simplicities about anyone's human potential. It requires listening to the wisdom and cutting the nonsense from both the Right and the Left.
I have never seen a greater monster or miracle in the world than myself.
Despotism has so often been established in the name of liberty that experience should warn us to judge parties by their practices rather than their preachings.
There is in stillness oft a magic power To calm the breast when struggling passions lower, Touched by its influence, in the soul arise Diviner feelings, kindred with the skies.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.