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Cruelty towards others is always also cruelty towards ourselves.
Paul Tillich
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Being cruel to others ultimately harms oneself, reflecting a shared human experience.

This quote by Paul Tillich emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity, suggesting that acts of cruelty do not only hurt the victim but also diminish the perpetrator. The idea is rooted in the understanding that our actions towards others are reflective of our own inner state, and that cruelty degrades our own humanity and well-being.

Themes

CrueltyCompassionHumanityInterconnectednessEmpathy

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about kindness and empathy, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of treating others well.

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Man is able to decide for or against reason, he is able to create beyond reason or to destroy below reason
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