Reinhold Niebuhr Quotes on Human nature
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Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.
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Man is endowed by nature with organic relations to his fellow men; and natural impulse prompts him to consider the needs of others even when they compete with his own.
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While it is possible for intelligence to increase the range of benevolent impulse, and thus prompt a human being to consider the needs and rights of other than those to whom he is bound by organic and physical relationship, there are definite limits in the capacity of ordinary mortals which makes it impossible for them to grant to others what they claim for themselves.
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The will-to-live becomes the will-to-power.
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Human beings are endowed by nature with both selfish and unselfish impulses.