Nature is at work. Character and destiny are her handiwork. She gives us love and hate, jealousy and reverence. All that is ours is the power to choose which impulse we shall follow.

The quote “Nature is at work. Character and destiny are her handiwork. She gives us love and hate, jealousy and reverence. All that is ours is the power to choose which impulse we shall follow.” by David Seabury explores the interplay between human nature, free will, and personal responsibility. Seabury emphasizes that while nature provides us with innate emotions and impulses—both positive, like love and reverence, and negative, like hate and jealousy—our character and destiny are shaped by how we respond to them. Humans are endowed with the power to choose, making moral and ethical decisions central to personal growth.

The origin of this quote comes from David Seabury (1885–1960), an American psychologist, author, and lecturer who focused on self-help, personal development, and applied psychology. Seabury often explored the mechanisms by which people could achieve emotional balance and cultivate strong character. His work reflects early 20th-century interest in understanding human behavior, emphasizing both the influence of inherent traits and the importance of conscious decision-making in shaping one’s life.

The meaning of the quote highlights the distinction between innate impulses and moral agency. While feelings like jealousy or hate are natural, they do not have to dictate our actions. By exercising our free will, we determine which emotions guide our behavior and, consequently, the kind of person we become. In this way, character is not fixed at birth but is continually constructed through choices and self-discipline.

Ultimately, Seabury’s insight underscores the responsibility inherent in human freedom. While we cannot control all aspects of our nature or external circumstances, we possess the power to choose our responses. This makes personal growth, ethical living, and the shaping of one’s destiny a matter of deliberate and conscious effort, aligning with both psychological understanding and timeless moral philosophy.