It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates.
 Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (1850). copy citation

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Author Nathaniel Hawthorne
Source The Scarlet Letter
Topic love human nature hate
Date 1850
Language English
Reference
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Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25344/25344-h/25344-h.htm

Context

“As is apt to be the case when a person stands out in any prominence before the community, and, at the same time, interferes neither with public nor individual interests and convenience, a species of general regard had ultimately grown up in reference to Hester Prynne. It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility. In this matter of Hester Prynne, there was neither irritation nor irksomeness.” source

Meaning and analysis

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