Were it only to learn benevolence to humankind, we should be merciful to other creatures.
Interpretation
We should show kindness to all living beings as a way to cultivate compassion in ourselves.
Plutarch suggests that our treatment of other creatures reflects our understanding and practice of benevolence towards humanity. By extending mercy and kindness to animals and all beings, we develop a more compassionate and empathetic nature, which ultimately benefits our interactions with fellow humans.
In practice
In a speech advocating for animal rights, one might quote Plutarch to emphasize the importance of kindness to all living beings.
Sometimes small incidents, rather than glorious exploits, give us the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are more exact in doing the face, where the character is revealed, than the rest of the body, I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks of the souls of men.
It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt.
Come back with your shield - or on it
The richest soil, if uncultivated, produces the rankest weeds.
For the correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.
Our senses through ignorance of Reality, falsely tell us that what appears to be, is. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real
Two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are as ignorant of each other's habits, thoughts, and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones, or inhabitants of different planets. The rich and the poor.
For a man's house is his castle, et domus sua cuique tutissimum refugium [and one's home is the safest refuge to everyone].
In the magical universe there are no coincidences and there are no accidents. Nothing happens unless someone wills it to happen. The dogma of science is that the will cannot possibly affect external forces, and I think thatβs just ridiculous. Itβs as bad as the church. My viewpoint is the exact contrary of the scientific viewpoint. I believe that if you run into somebody in the street itβs for a reason.
Our spirits are corroded by living in an atmosphere of unrelenting contention - an argument culture.
If we were not all so interested in ourselves, life would be so uninteresting that none of us would be able to endure it.
He who understands the limits of life knows that it is easy to obtain that which removes the pain of want and makes the whole of life complete and perfect. Thus he has no longer any need of things which involve struggle.
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