Swami Abhedananda 
Vedanta Philosophy: Divine Heritage of Man. Vol V 

The study of human nature is the most interesting and the most beneficial of all studies. The more we study ourselves, the better we can understand the universe, its laws, and the Truth that underlies its phenomena. It is said, “man is the epitome of the universe; whatever exists in the world is to be found in the body of man.” As, on the one hand, we find in man all those tendencies and propensities which characterize the lower animals, so on the other, we see him manifesting through the actions of his life all those noble qualities that adorn the character of one whom we honor, respect and worship as the Divine Being. Human nature seems to be a most wonderful blending of that which is animal with that which is called divine.