Can there be in our age any peace that is not honorable, any war that is not dishonorable?
Charles SumnerRead
The age of Chivalry is gone. An age of Humanity has come.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the transition from a time of gallant behavior to a more humane, empathetic approach to society.
Charles Sumner's quote signifies a shift in societal values from chivalry, characterized by honor and knightly virtue, to a focus on humanity, emphasizing compassion, empathy, and the collective well-being of individuals. It suggests that as society evolves, the ideals that guide human interactions can change, highlighting the importance of a more humane approach to relationships and societal structure.
In practice
A speaker at a social justice rally may use this quote to reflect on the need for empathy in community service.
Can there be in our age any peace that is not honorable, any war that is not dishonorable?
The true greatness of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual.
War is a positive, precise and specific evil, of gigantic proportions ...making within the sphere of its influence all true grandeur impossible.
The true grandeur of humanity is in moral elevation, sustained, enlightened and decorated by the intellect of man
No true and permanent fame can be founded, except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.
Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace.
He thought about how it might be to be, say, a fox confronted with an angry sheep. A sheep moreover, that could afford to employ wolves.
I told him I was going to betray you, and betray Lyra, and he believed me because I was corrupt and full of wickedness; he looked so deep I felt sure he'd see the truth. But I lied too well. I was lying with every nerve and fiber and everything I'd ever done...I wanted him to find no good in me, and he didn't. There is none.
We have Christians against Muslims against Jews, and no matter how liberal your theology, merely identifying yourself as a Christian or a Jew lends tacit validity to this status quo. People have morally identified with a subset of humanity rather than with humanity as a whole.
The problem with the youth of today' is that one is no longer part of it.
If God has given you the world's goods in abundance, it is to help you gain those of Heaven and to be a good example of sound teaching to your sons, servants, and relatives.
We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a thing. Our options may be things, but a choiceβa choice is an action. It is not just something we have but something we do.
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