Nobel had a complex personality

Nobel had a complex personality, which is one of the most interesting facts about Alfred Nobel. His colleagues were perplexed by Nobel's nuanced nature. Despite the near-constant travel necessitated by his business interests, he continued to live alone and was prone to depressive episodes. He was an ascetic and led a reclusive life, but he could throw a polite dinner party, be an excellent listener, and have a sharp wit. He never got married and, it seems, valued invention over romantic attachment. He authored plays, novels, and poems, practically all of which went unpublished because he had a lifelong passion for writing. He had incredible energy and had a hard time winding down after long stretches of labor.

Alfred Nobel had a reputation as a liberal or even a socialist among his contemporaries, but in reality, he distrusted democracy, opposed women's suffrage, and maintained a benign paternalistic attitude toward his numerous employees. Nobel had a negative outlook on people and nations, even though he was primarily a pacifist and thought that the devastating capabilities of his inventions would help put an end to war.