To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous HuxleyRead
The leech's kiss, the squid's embrace, The prurient ape's defiling touch: And do you like the human race? No, not much.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses a critical view of humanity, emphasizing its unpleasant or corrupt aspects.
Aldous Huxley's quote reflects a cynical perspective on human nature, comparing it unfavorably to the repulsive traits of various creatures. By illustrating a disconnect between the speaker and the human race, Huxley invites readers to question the morality and integrity of humanity, suggesting that perhaps our basest instincts overshadow our higher qualities.
Themes
Human NatureCynicismCritiqueMoralityInstincts
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the flaws of society, one could use this quote to emphasize a critical viewpoint.
More from Aldous Huxley
All quotes βFacts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
Aldous HuxleyRead
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.
Aldous HuxleyRead
On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
Aldous HuxleyRead
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.
Aldous HuxleyRead
Children are remarkable for their intelligence and ardor, for their curiosity, their intolerance of shams, the clarity and ruthlessness of their vision.
Aldous HuxleyRead
Similar quotes
To people like me, educated in post-war Britain, free speech has been a firm premise of the British way of life.
Roger ScrutonRead
And a rock feels no pain; And an island never cries.
Paul SimonRead
Every man is the builder of a temple called his body.
Henry David ThoreauRead
It was a drowsy summer afternoon, and the Forest was full of gentle sounds, which all seemed to be saying to Pooh, 'Don't listen to Rabbit, listen to me.' So he got in a comfortable position for not listening to Rabbit.
A. A. MilneRead
The church hates a thinker precisely for the same reason a robber dislikes a sheriff, or a thief despises the prosecuting witness.
Robert Green IngersollRead
The propriety of a law, in a constitutional light, must always be determined by the nature of the powers upon which it is founded.
Alexander HamiltonRead