Men Are Both Angels and Devils
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
11 December 2025
In great things, men are angels; in small things, they are devils. This observation beautifully captures the duality of human nature, highlighting the contrasting behaviours and moral compasses of individuals when confronted with different circumstances. When faced with significant challenges, men possess the ability to exhibit inner goodness and ethereal qualities akin to angels. It is during these extraordinary moments that their nobility and virtue shine through, as they display remarkable acts of courage, compassion, and selflessness. However, in the face of seemingly insignificant matters, the same individuals can transform into devils, succumbing to pettiness, greed, and selfishness. These words remind us that the true measure of one's character lies not only in how people navigate the grand stages of life but also in how they conduct themselves in the seemingly inconsequential moments, revealing the complex and intricate nature of human beings. Every human is like Walt Whitman's paradoxical individual: I contradict myself / I contain multitudes. Original is:
“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”
― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
Mirza Ghalib also said the same, albeit in his own inimitable manner, "Hai aadmi bajaye khud ik mahshar-e-khayal / Hum anjuman samajhte hain, khalvat hi kyon na ho."
Man is capable of reaching the pinnacle. But he can also hit the pit. Humans save their best for the best occasions and are least bothered about the ordinary circumstances. That's the reason, it's often difficult to judge a human and decide how he'll react at a particular moment. You've the example of Adolf Hitler who didn't eat meat, even fish as he thought that eating the flesh of an animal was cruelty. But his conscience didn't prick him when he almost decimated the Jews and became a metaphor for extreme cruelty and insensitivity. Stalin was very fond of his cat but he ordered to kill numerous people and didn't even save his son whom he could have saved.
Joseph Stalin deliberately refused German offers to exchange his eldest son, Yakov Dzhugashvili, after Yakov was captured by Nazi forces during World War II. This decision is often cited as an example of Stalin's ruthless, pragmatic leadership style, where the principles of the state superseded personal and family ties. Man is both a Jekyll and Hyde. Meanness and Magnificence exist in humans in a symbiotic manner. Acme and Abomination live cheek by jowl in a man. Contrasts and contradictions make an individual. That's why there's a Hindi adage, "Insaan hi hai bhagwan/ Insaan hi hai shaitaan."
There's a saint and a sinner in every human and this odd juxtaposition makes every individual so enigmatic and fascinating.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/men-angels-devils/d/137974
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