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In sinning, each man sins against all, and each man is at least partly guilt for another's sin. There is no isolated sin.
Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the interconnectedness of humanity in moral responsibility.

Dostoevsky's quote illustrates the idea that individual actions and sins are not merely personal but have a profound impact on others. It suggests that when one person commits a wrong, it creates a ripple effect that affects the whole of humanity, implying that we share a collective moral responsibility and guilt for each other's actions. The notion of 'no isolated sin' is a call for awareness of how our choices can influence the ethical landscape around us.

Themes

SinResponsibilityHumanityGuiltInterconnectedness

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about moral choices in a philosophy class.

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...to return to their 'native soil,' as they say, to the bosom, so to speak, of their mother earth, like frightened children, yearning to fall asleep on the withered bosom of their decrepit mother, and to sleep there for ever, only to escape the horrors that terrify them.
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