They all err - Muslims, Christians, Jews and Magians. There are two kinds of humans - the intelligent, who have no religion, and the religious, who have no intellect.
Al-MaarriRead
Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than men [to thy charity]. For their race brings not harm upon thee in any wise, when thou fearest it from thine own race.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the importance of selfless charity and compassion towards all creatures, especially those who do not cause harm.
Al-Maarri emphasizes the value of extending kindness and charity not just to fellow humans, but also to animals, particularly those who are innocent and harmless. He suggests that, unlike some of our own kind, birds do not bring harm to us, and therefore we should consider them deserving of our generosity. This quote encourages us to elevate our sense of compassion and to recognize the importance of all forms of life.
Themes
CharityAnimalsCompassionKindnessPhilosophySelflessness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech advocating for animal rights, you might use this quote to emphasize the importance of empathy for all living beings.
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