We have to realize that we are as deeply afraid to live and to love as we are to die.
R. D. LaingRead
The brotherhood of man is evoked by particular men according to their circumstances. But it seldom extends to all men. In the name of our freedom and our brotherhood we are prepared to blow up the other half of mankind and to be blown up in our turn.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the selective nature of human solidarity, highlighting the irony of promoting brotherhood while also embracing conflict.
In this thought-provoking quote by R. D. Laing, the author examines the complex nature of human relationships and the concept of brotherhood. While people often celebrate the idea of unity and fraternity among humans, this bond frequently proves to be conditional and limited, as it tends to favor certain individuals or groups based on context. Laing points out the paradox that arises when the fight for freedom and solidarity can lead to violence against others, suggesting that our pursuit of brotherhood sometimes contradicts the very principles it stands for.
Themes
BrotherhoodHumanityViolenceFreedomConflict
In practice
Example use cases
During speeches on human rights, this quote can illustrate the complexities of advocating for freedom while simultaneously facing the realities of conflict.
More from R. D. Laing
All quotes →Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.
R. D. LaingRead
Whether life is worth living depends on whether there is love in life.
R. D. LaingRead
The experience and behavior that gets labeled schizophrenic is a special strategy that a person invents in order to live in an unlivable situation.
R. D. LaingRead
The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice.
R. D. LaingRead
Here we have the paradox, the potentially tragic paradox, that our relatedness to others is an essential aspect of our being, as is our separateness, but any particular person is not a necessary part of our being.
R. D. LaingRead
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