We must never expect discretion in first love: it is accompanied by such excessive joy that unless the joy is allowed to overflow, it will choke you.
Alexandre DumasRead
Upon my word," said Dantes, "you make me shudder. Is the world filled with tigers and crocodiles?" "Yes; and remember that two legged tigers and crocodiles are more dangerous than the others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote warns that human beings can be more treacherous than wild animals.
In this quote, Dantes is confronted with the idea that the dangers of the world are not limited to wild creatures like tigers and crocodiles, but that humans, with their potential for deceit and cruelty, can be even more perilous. It highlights a profound observation about human nature, suggesting that the real threats often come from those who walk on two legs rather than those that roam the wild, inviting reflection on morality and the inherent darkness that can exist within people.
Themes
DangerHuman NatureTreacheryPhilosophyMorality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a lecture about human psychology and moral philosophy.
More from Alexandre Dumas
All quotes →There are two ways of seeing: with the body and with the soul. The body's sight can sometimes forget, but the soul remembers forever.
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I do not often laugh, sir, as you may perceive by the air of my countenance; but nevertheless, I retain the privilege of laughing when I please.
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There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.
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Those born to wealth, and who have the means of gratifying every wish, know not what is the real happiness of life, just as those who have been tossed on the stormy waters of the ocean on a few frail planks can alone realize the blessings of fair weather.
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It is the way of weakened minds to see everything through a black cloud. The soul forms its own horizons; your soul is darkened, and consequently the sky of the future appears stormy and unpromising
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