When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast

When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast

The quote "When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast" is from William Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice." This line is spoken by the character Portia in Act 4, Scene 1, as she reflects on the nature of mercy and the capacity for both good and evil within human beings.