this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life and children when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you. -- the prince, machiavelli

nature made me happy and good, and if i am otherwise, it is society's fault. -- émile, ou de l’éducation, rousseau.

government is necessary, not because man is naturally bad... but because man is by nature more individualistic than social. -- leviathan, hobbes

for john locke, human nature is essentially good, and that we could have lived peaceful and happy lives well before the development of anything like the modern state.