There is very little moral mixture in the 'Antislavery' feeling of this country. A great deal is abstract philanthropy; part is hatred of slaveholders; a great part is jealousy for white labor, very little is consciousness of wrong done and the wish to right it.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the motives behind antislavery sentiments, suggesting they are often mixed and not purely moral.
George William Curtis highlights the complexities of the antislavery movement in America, arguing that while there are noble intentions, such as a desire to end injustice, many motivations are influenced by self-interest, social jealousy, or mere abstract philanthropy rather than a genuine moral condemnation of slavery itself. This reflection prompts deeper consideration of the true intentions behind social reform movements.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the motivations behind social justice movements in academic settings.
I think that to have known one good, old man-one man, who, through the chances and mischances of a long life, has carried his heart in his hand, like a palm-branch, waving all discords into peace-helps our faith in God, in ourselves, and in each other more than many sermons
Reputation is favorable notoriety as distinguished from fame, which is permanent approval of great deeds and noble thoughts by the best intelligence of mankind.
The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
It is quite possible--overwhelmingly probable, one might guess--that we will always learn more about human life and personality from novels than from scientific psychology
The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing.
In so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity.
The purpose of religion is not so much to get us into heaven, or to keep us out of hell, but to put a little bit of heaven into us, and take the hell out of us. This has always been the greatest responsibility of religion.
Language is the archives of history.
I often worry that my idea of personhood is nostalgic, irrational, inaccurate.
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