We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
Cruelty depends on an understanding of cruelty, and the ability to choose against it. Or to choose to ignore it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cruelty is rooted in knowledge and choice, and one can either act against it or overlook it.
This quote by Jonathan Safran Foer suggests that cruelty is not an instinctual trait but rather a conscious choice that stems from an understanding of what cruelty entails. It emphasizes the moral responsibility individuals have in recognizing cruelty and deciding whether to confront it or remain passive, highlighting the significance of awareness and personal agency in moral actions.
Themes
CrueltyChoiceAwarenessResponsibilityMorality
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about human rights, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of recognizing and combating cruelty.
More from Jonathan Safran Foer
All quotes βMemory was supposed to fill the time, but it made time a hole to be filled. Each second was two hundred yards, to be walked, crawled. You couldn't see the next hour, it was so far in the distance. Tomorrow was over the horizon, and would take an entire day to reach.
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She was not crying Which surprised me very much But I understand now That she had found places For her melancholy That were behind more masks Than only her eyes
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What do babies dream of? She must be dreaming of the before-life, just as I dream of the afterlife.
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A few weeks after the worst day, I started writing lots of letters. I don't know why, but it was one of the only things that made my boots lighter.
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What is being awake if not interpreting our dreams, or dreaming if not interpreting our wake?
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