QuoteProject
To feed men and not to love them is to treat them as if they were barnyard cattle. To love them and not respect them is to treat them as if they were household pets.
Mencius
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of love and respect in our relationships with others.

Mencius highlights that merely providing for people's basic needs, such as food, without extending love and respect diminishes their humanity. Similarly, loving individuals without respecting them devalues their autonomy and dignity. Thus, true care involves both love and respect, recognizing people's full humanity.

Themes

LoveRespectHumanityRelationshipsCare

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared during a speech about the importance of compassion in leadership.

More from Mencius

If the King loves music, it is well with the land.
MenciusRead
Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.
MenciusRead
I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger.
MenciusRead
Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others.
MenciusRead
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MenciusRead
Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.
MenciusRead

Similar quotes

Once one concedes that a single world government is not necessary, then where does one logically stop at the permissibility of separate states? If Canada and the United States can be separate nations without being denounced as in a state of impermissible ‘anarchy’, why may not the South secede from the United States? New York State from the Union? New York City from the state? Why may not Manhattan secede? Each neighbourhood? Each block? Each house? Each person?
Murray RothbardRead
We all walk in a land of dreams. For what are we but atoms and hope, a handful of stardust and sinew? We are weary travelers trying to find our way home on a road that never ends. Am I a part of your dream? or are you but a part of mine?
Libba BrayRead
The true identity theft is not financial. It's not in cyberspace. It's spiritual. It's been taken.
Stephen CoveyRead
While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.
Pope Benedict XviRead
All day long he was docile, intelligent, good, Though sometimes changing to a darker mood. He seemed hypocritical, could tell better lies, in the dark he saw dots of colors behind closed eyes, clenched fists, put his tongue out at his elder brother.
Arthur RimbaudRead
Those who, like the beasts, have no such Hope, pass their old age shrouded with an inward gloom.
Wilfred OwenRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.