What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals!--and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delighteth not me...

Summary

This quote, from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, reflects the ambivalent feelings and contradictory nature of human beings. The speaker marvels at the intellectual and physical capabilities of mankind, describing them as noble, intelligent, and angelic. However, in the speaker's personal perspective, humans are merely made from dust, implying their mortality and insignificance. Thus, despite recognizing the remarkable qualities of humanity, the speaker ultimately finds no delight in mankind, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of human existence.