We do not work for men. We work for the land and the people. We do not even work for money.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that our efforts should be aligned with the greater good of society and the environment rather than personal gain.
Alan Paton's quote highlights the idea that our work should be directed towards serving the community and the land itself, rather than merely for the benefit of individuals or profit. It suggests that true fulfillment comes from contributing to the well-being of people and the preservation of the earth rather than accumulating wealth or status. This perspective invites a sense of purpose in our endeavors, implying that our actions should reflect a commitment to collective progress and sustainability.
In practice
During a speech at a charity event, one might say, 'As Alan Paton once stated, we do not work for men, but for the land and the people, highlighting the importance of our contributions to society.'
Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that's the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing. Nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him if he gives too much.
Ask yourself not if this or that is expedient, but if it is right.
One day in Johannesburg, and already the tribe was being rebuilt, the house and soul being restored.
What broke in a man when he could bring himself to kill another? What broke when he could bring himself to thrust down the knife into the warm flesh, to bring down the axe on the living head, to cleave down between the seeing eyes, to shoot the gun that would drive death into the beating heart?
It is not permissible to add to one's possesions if these things can only be done at the cost of other men. Such development has only one true name, and that is exploitation.
If you wrote a novel in South Africa which didn't concern the central issues, it wouldn't be worth publishing.
If it is not totalitarian to arrest a man and detain him, when you cannot charge him with any offence against any written law β if that is not what we have always cried out against in Fascist states β then what is it?β¦ If we are to survive as a free democracy, then we must be prepared, in principle, to concede to our enemies β even those who do not subscribe to our views β as much constitutional rights as you concede yourself.
I am sometimes shocked by the blasphemies of those who think themselves pious.
By reshaping or decorating our outer selves, we express our inner sense of self: 'I like that' becomes 'I'm like that.'
You can make any human activity into meditation simply by being completely with it and doing it just to do it.
But sea power has never led to despotism. The nations that have enjoyed sea power even for a brief period-Athens, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, England, the United States-are those that have preserved freedom for themselves and have given it to others. Of the despotism to which unrestrained military power leads we have plenty of examples from Alexander to Mao.
Death is the destination we all share, no one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be because death is very likely the single best invention of life.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.