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.
Paul TillichRead
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
Paul TillichRead
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.
Paul TillichRead
Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human
Paul TillichRead
Man is able to decide for or against reason, he is able to create beyond reason or to destroy below reason
Paul TillichRead
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If there is no free speech, every single life has lived in vain
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From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.
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