This review assesses the new monograph by Yu.P. Ivonin and O.I. Ivonina, which deals with a topic that is both highly relevant and 'perennial' - the notion of human nature in its politico-philosophical dimension. The book's methodological 'moderate presentism' seeks to balance a treatment of the classics from the perspective of current authors and a simultaneous thorough study of the sources' specificity. The monograph's novelty is grounded in the useful methodology, in taking into account numerous classical texts, especially those rarely discussed, and in bringing out their complicated aspects. Thus, the role of will in Plato, the relationship between the contemplative and active lives in Aristotle, and sceptical elements in the Enlightenment authors have been analyzed in detail. Nevertheless, Augustine's interest to political institutions has been underrated, and a linguistic construction of politics in Thomas Hobbes has not been discussed. Also, the (pseudo-)Platonic letters and The Athenian Constitution have been omitted; it is unclear why the authors selected some classics and left out many others (including numerous Roman and medieval authors, representatives of the Renaissance, Reformation, and the late scholastics, a range of utopianists and German classics). Yet, even the unsolved issues are guides for future debates. © 2025 Aquilo. All rights reserved.