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The most violent appetites in all creatures are lust and hunger; the first is a perpetual call upon them to propagate their kind, the latter to preserve themselves.
Joseph Addison
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the primal instincts of lust and hunger as fundamental drives for survival and procreation.

Joseph Addison's quote emphasizes the idea that the strongest desires in living beings stem from two basic needs: the urge to reproduce and the need to sustain life. Lust serves as a motivating force for species to continue their lineage, while hunger represents the necessity for survival. Together, these 'violent appetites' not only reflect the biological imperatives of life but also underline the core motivations that drive behavior in all creatures.

Themes

LustHungerSurvivalInstinctsNature

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on human behavior, one might reference this quote to illustrate the primal instincts that drive people.

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