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Evil, in this system of ethics, is that which tears apart, shuts out the other person, raises barriers, sets people against each other.
Rollo May
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Evil is defined as actions or behaviors that isolate and harm others, creating division and conflict.

In this quote, Rollo May emphasizes that evil is fundamentally linked to the act of creating separation and hostility between individuals. It highlights how behaviors that exclude or harm others contribute to societal discord and ethical failings, suggesting that true ethics involve fostering connection and understanding among people rather than division.

Themes

EvilEthicsConnectionDiversityHumanity

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about social justice and the importance of inclusivity.

More from Rollo May

Love is generally confused with dependence; but in point of fact, you can love only in proportion to your capacity for independence.
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To love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to grief, sorrow, and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity of consciousness we did not know was possible before
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Terrorism and the whole drug scene are vivid examples of the fact that what persons abhor most of all in life is the possibility that they will not matter.
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Humor is the healthy way of feeling "distance" between one's self and the problem, a way of standing off and looking at one's problem with perspective.
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Beauty is the experience that gives us a sense of joy and a sense of peace simultaneously.
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The poet, like the lover, is a menace on the assembly line.
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