The riddle seems kinda dumb to me.
Sure humans CAN kill, but kill EVERY living thing? And be cruel about it? And what's this about greed and sorrow and cowardice?
Couldn't all this be prescribed to a bear as well?
And what's this about 'cutting ones self up'? When do humans do that?
I suppose all these emotions could be described as specifically human emotions, and thus it could only be humans, but something about it just rubs me the wrong way rather than making me go - "OH! Of course!" Like so many riddles do.
I was initially thinking the answer would be death, since it kills and does so to all living things; is greedy constantly taking more, and is also kind and charitable since death can be a merciful thing; and it is the root cause of cowardice, and much sorrow, and is what makes people wish for eternity.
Though still no idea how cutting itself up would apply, but it doesn't apply to humans either, so....
It might just be translation issues that giving me such issues with the riddle though.
