So in 1987 I gave up all animal products and became a vegan. Simply so that I could eat and live in accordance with my beliefs that animals have their own lives, that they're entitled to their own lives and that contributing to animal suffering is something that I don't want to be a part of.
I believe that to knowingly commit actions that cause or condone suffering is reprehensible in the extreme. I call upon you to be compassionate and treat others as you want to be treated. If you don't want to be beaten, imprisoned, mutilated, killed or tortured then you shouldn't condone such behavior towards anyone, be they human or not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of compassion and the moral obligation to treat all beings with respect and kindness.
Moby's quote challenges us to reflect on our moral responsibilities towards others by highlighting the reprehensibility of actions that lead to suffering. It advocates for empathy, urging individuals to recognize that actions leading to harm, whether towards humans or animals, are unethical and calls for a universal application of the 'Golden Rule' – to treat others as one wishes to be treated, fostering a compassionate society.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on human rights, one might reference this quote to stress the importance of compassion in policies.
More from Moby
All quotes →But when a man’s religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him.
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And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists.
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It provokes the desire but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off.