Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes personal responsibility for inaction and the moral weight of missed opportunities to do good.
Voltaire's quote suggests that individuals bear a moral obligation for not only the actions they take but also for the good deeds they fail to perform. It highlights a philosophical viewpoint on accountability, conveying that inaction in the face of opportunity is itself a form of guilt, underscoring the importance of actively participating in the betterment of society and oneself.
Themes
ResponsibilityInactionMoralGoodnessOpportunity
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about community involvement, you could use this quote to inspire action among attendees.
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It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
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It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
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We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
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