Faith consists in being vitally concerned with that ultimate reality to which I give the symbolical name of God. Whoever reflects earnestly on the meaning of life is on the verge of an act of faith.
Paul TillichRead
Cruelty towards others is always also cruelty towards ourselves.
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.
More from Paul Tillich
All quotes βHe who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.
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The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
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The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny of [humanity] as a whole and in the destiny of their city in particular; for their acts in which freedom was united with destiny have contributed to the destiny in which they participate. They are guilty, not of committing the crimes of which their group is accused, but of contributing to the destiny in which these crimes happened.
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Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human
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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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To live a life of virtue, match up your thoughts, words, and deeds.
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I am a Muslim, because it's a religion that teaches you an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. It teaches you to respect everybody, and treat everybody right. But it also teaches you if someone steps on your toe, chop off their foot. And I carry my religious axe with me all the time.
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God belongs to all free beings. He is the life of all, the salvation of all ~faithful and unfaithful, just and unjust, pious and impious, passionate and dispassionate, monks and laymen, wise and simple, healthy and sick, young and old just as the effusion of light, the sight of the sun, and the changes of the seasons are for all alike; 'for there is no respect of persons with God.'
John ClimacusRead