According to Gandhi, the seven sins are wealth without works, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, and politics without principle. Well, Hubert Humphrey may have sinned in the eyes of God, as we all do, but according to those definitions of Gandhi's, it was Hubert Humphrey without sin.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the moral implications of actions and the absence of ethical principles in society.
Jimmy Carter reflects on Gandhi's definitions of sins and points to Hubert Humphrey as a man who, despite his flaws, exhibited integrity and virtue in his actions. This highlights the importance of character and moral values in various aspects of life, suggesting that true worth comes from ethical conduct rather than material success or social status.
In practice
In a speech about ethics in leadership, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of moral character.
Acknowledging the physical realities of our planet does not mean a dismal future of endless sacrifice. In fact, acknowledging these realities is the first step in dealing with them. We can meet the resource problems of the world - water, food, minerals, farmlands, forests, overpopulation, pollution - if we tackle them with courage and foresight.
The preeminent obstacle to peace is Israel's colonization of Palestine.
I would say the biggest handicap we have right now is some nutcases in our country that don't believe in global warming. I think they are going to change their position because of pressure from individuals, because the evidence of the ravages of global warming is already there.
If I were president, I'd be very glad to see the Palestinians have a nation recognized by the United Nations. There's no downside to it.
My understanding of racial discrimination as a child was highly distorted because the most prominent man in Archery was an African-American bishop. When he came home from up north, where he was in charge of A.M.E. churches in five states, it was front-page news. He was the most successful man in my life.
Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than the bounty of our material blessings.
There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.
Man is a degeneration of what he was.
Why God has instituted Prayer:β To communicate to his creatures the dignity of causation.
To say that there is patriarchy in Arab culture is not denying women agency.
It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.
It is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it.
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