Man is the cruelest animal.

Man is the cruelest animal.

I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings read more

I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility

No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting read more

No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which one is true.

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance read more

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and read more

The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it

The race of mankind would perish did they cease to aid each other. We cannot exist without mutual help. All read more

The race of mankind would perish did they cease to aid each other. We cannot exist without mutual help. All therefore that need aid have a right to ask it from their fellow-men; and no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without guilt.

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.

Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... read more

Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.

No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the read more

No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. More mankind quotes coming soon. If you have a quote or proverb about mankind, please use the "Submit a Quote" form below to have your mankind quote reviewed by an editor. Suggestions or comments on this site? Send an email -John Donne.