"Humanitarianism needs no apology. Unless we feel it toward all men without exception, we shall have lost the chief redeeming force in human history." -- Ralph Barton Perry, American author & educator (1876-1957).
This quote means so much to me. To me, it is the defining reason why we cannot be selective in our caring for our human brothers and sisters, regardless of race, religion, or any other thing that differentiates us.
'nuff said.
Sloganizer
4 comments:
But like "tolerance", does it only extend to members of your own political leanings?
I absolutely agree. And in caring for all humanity, I feel it sometimes becomes necessary to deal with people who are total menaces to humankind such as Hitler and Osama Bin Laden; people who rise to power then use that power to torture thousands of innocent people.
It's merely a call for each person to look inside themselves, and see where they might improve how they look on their fellow man, whether they're in their own neighborhood, or halfway around the world.
Please don't mix this beautiful quote with politics. It was not a political statement of any kind.
It IS a beautiful quote. Thank you for it. Sometimes I need reminding that if I'm in for a penny, I'm in for a pound (especially in regards to some of my relatives!). All joking aside, though, I think the world would be a much nicer place for our children if we remembered these words more often.
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