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Were it only to learn benevolence to humankind, we should be merciful to other creatures.
Plutarch
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Interpretation

What this quote means

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.

Themes

BenevolenceKindnessCompassionMercyHumankindCreatures

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech advocating for animal rights, one might quote Plutarch to emphasize the importance of kindness to all living beings.

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Quote by Plutarch | QuoteProject