It's a privilege to serve the poor, to be servants of noble Africans, but I better belong in the rehearsal room or in the studio with my band. That's where I want to be and I still wake up in the morning with melodies in my head.
BonoRead
Distance does not decide who is your brother and who is not. The church is going to have to become the conscience of the free market if it's to have any meaning in this world - and stop being its apologist.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that true connections are not determined by physical distance and highlights the moral responsibility of institutions in society.
Bono's quote reflects on the idea that familial bonds can transcend geographical barriers, suggesting that the strength of these relationships is rooted in emotional and spiritual connections rather than physical proximity. Furthermore, he critiques the church's role in the free market, urging it to advocate for ethical values and integrity rather than merely justifying market behaviors, thereby calling for a deeper moral engagement in societal issues.
Themes
DistanceBrotherhoodChurchConscienceFree Market
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about family relationships during a gathering, this quote can highlight the importance of emotional ties over physical presence.
More from Bono
All quotes →Perspective is the cure for depression.
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At a certain point, I just felt, you know, God is not looking for alms, God is looking for action.
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It's much easier to be successful than it is to be relevant. The tricks won't keep you relevant. Tricks might keep you popular for a while, but in all honesty, I don't know how U2 will stay relevant. I know we've got a future. I know we can fill stadiums. And yet with every record, I think, 'Is this it? Are we still relevant?'
BonoRead
God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them.
BonoRead
Hanging out with politicians and corporations is very unhip work. But I think that the U2 audience have turned out to be incredibly subtle in their understanding.
BonoRead
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