What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
We are the living graves of murdered beasts, slaughtered to satisfy our appetites. How can we hope in this world to attain the peace we say we are so anxious for?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques human consumption and questions the possibility of peace amidst the violence against animals.
George Bernard Shaw's quote reflects on the ethical implications of humanity's appetite for meat and the consequent violence inflicted upon animals. It challenges us to consider how we can seek peace in our lives while contributing to suffering through our choices, prompting a deeper reflection on morality, compassion, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
Themes
PeaceViolenceConsumptionEthicsAnimalsMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about animal rights, one could emphasize the need for ethical consumption by quoting Shaw's insight.
More from George Bernard Shaw
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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