A war undertaken and brazenly carried on for the perpetual enslavement of colored men, calls logically and loudly for colored men to help suppress it.
Frederick DouglassRead
Kindness towards strangers is rare in North Korea. There is a risk to helping others. The state made accusers and informers of us all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the courage needed to show kindness in a repressive environment where such actions can have serious consequences.
In this quote, Lee Hyeon-Seo speaks to the scarcity of kindness among strangers in North Korea, a place where societal norms and government actions have instilled fear of retribution for helping others. The idea of helping someone becomes risky as the state has encouraged a culture of suspicion, where individuals may inform on one another, leading to a breakdown of communal support and kindness.
Themes
KindnessCourageStrangersRiskNorth KoreaFearHelp
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about human rights, this quote highlights the importance of compassion even in hostile environments.
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