Nature
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6.Human nature, instinct and the natural versus the artificial
6a.Natural inclination, character and its persistence
See also: Education 1c
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 20–21Concerns love, wisdom and the gentleman's conduct; no real treatment of nature.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 42Innate nature persists despite outward transformation, as the cat-bride chases the mouse.read · scan
Hippocrates, The Law of HippocratesVol. 38
- p. 4Natural disposition must lead the way before instruction can take root.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 129–130Seeker wants to remain as Nature would have him despite his brother's anger.read · scan
- p. 137Man is to be kept as Nature made him.read · scan
- p. 142–143Speaks of showing the 'true nature' of each condition (rule, exile, wealth); only a loose use of nature, with obedience to God and Hercules as example.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 318–319Nature in generation would follow the parent's path unswervingly were Providence not to override; ill-suited fortune makes seed thrive badly out of its climate.read · scan
- p. 340–341Nature always renders the divine imprint imperfect, so one tree bears better fruit than another and men differ in talentread · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 19Father cannot force the inclinations of nature, which direct the sons to design and arms.read · scan
- p. 64He remarks that all things act as their nature prompts, excusing Luigi's conduct.read · scan
- p. 70Cellini says he was by nature more inclined to arms than to his own art.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 105Marcela likens herself to a viper blameless for natural poison and finds companions in trees and streams.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 31–32Says the inclination to goodness is imprinted deeply in human nature, extending even to animals among cruel peoples.read · scan
- p. 32Some men have a natural disposition toward goodness, others a natural malignity; the errors of human nature contrasted with habit directed by reason.read · scan
- p. 96–97Nature is hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished; a man's true nature shows in privateness, passion and new situations.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 186–189Ophelia is likened to a creature native to the water element; nature's custom is weepingread · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 399–410Caliban is hag-born, savage and brutish, incapable of taking goodness.read · scan
- p. 449–450Caliban's nature defeats nurture; his body grows uglier with age and his mind cankers.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 311Virtue grows from the seeds of nature rather than forced grafts of education.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 41–42Nature sometimes gains ascendency and preserves instinct despite custom.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 44–45Make the best of what nature has given; native temper cannot be wholly changed.read · scan
Alexander Pope, Solitude; On a Certain Lady at Court; Essay on ManVol. 40
- p. 415Nature's road must be preferred; the ruling passion is nature's child.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter ScottVol. 25
- p. 408Nature bountifully produced two healthy men, Scott and Cobbett, in a sickly age; no great nature is unhealthy.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, CharacterVol. 5
- p. 191–192Character is nature in its highest form; greatly-destined persons grow in shade, and nature will not be democratized.read · scan
- p. 193Nature keeps character in her own hands, scorning sermons and laws, and never makes two men alike.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoliticsVol. 5
- p. 239–240Persons are equal 'identical in nature' and access to reason; human nature as basis of equal rights versus property. Incidental.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 380–381Their habits and instincts cleave to nature; earthy and sea-attached.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 222–223The duckling's kind is revealed by natural ability, not appearance.read · scan
6b.Instinct, custom and nature's voice in conscience
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On FriendshipVol. 9
- p. 21Friendship originates in natural impulse rather than need; nature being unchanging, genuine friendships are eternal.read · scan
- p. 26–27Likeness draws things together, so friendship is ordained by nature.read · scan
- p. 36The natural instinct toward companionship, present in all living things, is stronger in man by the law of his nature.read · scan
- p. 37–38Nature abhors isolation and leans on a close friend for support.read · scan
Paul, The First Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 504Appeals to nature itself as teaching that long hair is dishonor to a man, glory to a woman.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 285All natures lean diversely toward their primal source, each with instinct bearing it along its course.read · scan
- p. 285Instinct binds the brute earth together and moves creatures without intellect, as well as those with intelligence and love.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 204Lust cannot pass the limits Nature has assigned, unlike sincere affection which has no bounds.read · scan
John Winthrop, Arbitrary Government Described and the Government of the Massachusetts Vindicated from That AspersionVol. 43
- p. 104Light of nature invoked as a source of moral law and rule for judges.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 40–41Pascal questions what nature is, since custom can destroy or override natural love and principles.read · scan
- p. 47Nature gives passions and desires suited to our present state, such as illness.read · scan
- p. 126–127The licentious say the orderly stray from nature's path.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 413Nature has impressed this predisposition on our souls, requiring neither art nor study.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 10Nature can bring itself to seemingly impossible things if accustomed from infancy.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 320Nature maintains her rights over abstract reasoning; a principle of human nature guides inference even when reason fails.read · scan
- p. 372–373Nature provides another principle than reasoning for inferring effects from causes, as too important to be left to reason.read · scan
- p. 374Instincts derive from the original hand of nature.read · scan
- p. 408–409Natural instinct leads men to assume an external universe independent of perception.read · scan
- p. 414Powerful principles of our nature overcome the sceptic's doubts.read · scan
- p. 415Nature is always too strong for principle; life's trivial events put doubts to flight.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 239Nature's voice is innocence; one should check her insinuations before listening.read · scan
- p. 268Following conscience is following the direct path of nature and instinct.read · scan
- p. 271–272The voice of nature, mildly governing through conscience, is more powerful than the gods.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 83–84The need for relaxation is the call of nature; neglecting it brings dangerous consequences.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and BeautifulVol. 24
- p. 96These properties operate by nature and are less altered by caprice or diverse tastes.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 173Instincts of nature fortify the feeble contrivances of reasonread · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 339–340The pastor defends curiosity as an innocent instinct given by good mother Nature.read · scan
Friedrich von Schiller, Letters upon the Aesthetic Education of ManVol. 32
- p. 218Oscillation between the unnatural and mere nature; we deny nature's legitimate field yet take principles from her.read · scan
- p. 279–280Nature ought not to rule man exclusively, nor reason conditionally.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 326–327Nature meant that the vital energy in man be unseen and unconscious.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter ScottVol. 25
- p. 406–407Healthy soul discerns good by instinct from Nature like wild animals, needing no philosophy or creeds.read · scan
- p. 436Animal instinct is called a voice of Nature, grown in silent communion with fact rather than idle hypothesis.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 167–168Intuitionists treat feelings as ultimate elements of human nature.read · scan
6c.Nature's healing and the treatment of the body
See also: Medicine 2b
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 169–170Francesco exclaims that Nature knows what she requires and physicians know nothing; the body took exactly what it needed.read · scan
- p. 170The doctor advises waiting to see how Nature works in the patient before he travels.read · scan
- p. 175The warm goose feathers remedy the frozen leg.read · scan
Ambroise Paré, Journeys in Diverse PlacesVol. 38
- p. 53Paré holds that God and Nature sometimes do what physicians deem impossible, giving hope because the patient is young.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 107Nature's ill work on the body is repaid by those wronged; natural inclination can be overcome by discipline.read · scan
William Harvey, On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in AnimalsVol. 38
- p. 121Anticipates the objection that the experiment does violence to nature and answers it.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 14–15Nature shapes the body better than we can direct her; meddling with it destroys children through senseless fondness.read · scan
- p. 15Distributing the body's nourishment as nature designs is hindered by binding; unnatural compression harms the heart and seat of life.read · scan
- p. 23Sleep is the great cordial of nature; moderate complaints best left to nature.read · scan
- p. 26Safer to leave children to nature than to meddling physicians.read · scan
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsVol. 10
- p. 438–439Nature's wisdom, in man's effort to better his condition, remedies the folly and injustice of political economy as in the body.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 98–101Mephistopheles says nature offers renewal of youth through simple life in the fields.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 331–332Nature asserts her rights over the stirred spirit, claiming her final tribute of sleep.read · scan
Edward Jenner, The Three Original Publications on Vaccination Against SmallpoxVol. 38
- p. 143–145Man's deviation from his original natural state is said to be a prolific source of disease.read · scan
- p. 192–193Nature forms glands as easily as blood vessels; a deviation can make a mild secretion poisonous.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter ScottVol. 25
- p. 409–410Nature gave vigorous health with lameness turning him to mind; disease was superficial.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 430Nature provides remedies: sects arise and the lower classes turn heathen against sanctimony.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1259–1260Nature heals man's hurts; the primal mind flows in streams and winds, and man should quit pedant lore for herread · scan
Louis Pasteur, On the Extension of the Germ Theory to the Etiology of Certain Common DiseasesVol. 38
- p. 380Invokes natura medicatrix: the vitality of mucous surfaces resists foreign germs and heals.read · scan
6d.Unnatural conduct and the natural ties of kinship
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 162Nature binds men by ties of kindred.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 39Offences against nature, like Sodom, are always detestable because they pollute the nature God authored; contrasted with offences against mere custom, which vary by convention.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 61Introduces the sodomites as those who did violence to Nature, placed in burning sand; the offense against natural order is only named in the argument.read · scan
- p. 61Dante speaks of the confines of man's nature and Brunetto's sin against it; the natural-versus-perverse theme is only implicit, with the clerks polluted by one sin.read · scan
- p. 61Brunetto names learned clerks polluted by the same sin against nature; only a brief allusion to the unnatural vice.read · scan
- p. 65–66Sinners of violence against nature in the burning sand; Virgil mentions the nature of the place. Only tangential.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 274–275Lear asks how natural order could produce such unnatural hearts; Kent says 'oppressed nature sleeps'.read · scan
- p. 284Nature that contemns its origin cannot be safe; unnatural daughters, humanity will prey on itself like sea monsters.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 333Nature requires affection among relations and should be preserved in children.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 313–314The father has cast Nature off and Nature casts him off; Giacomo threatens to reverse nature's law.read · scan
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