What is the essence of theosophy? It is the fact that man, being himself divine, can know the divinity whose life he shares. As an inevitable corollary to this supreme truth comes the fact of the brotherhood of man.
Annie BesantRead
The misery we inflict on sentient beings slackens our human evolution.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our suffering of others hinders our own growth and humanity.
Annie Besant's quote suggests that when we cause suffering to sentient beings, it not only affects them negatively but also impedes our progress as a species. By acting compassionately and acknowledging the rights and feelings of other beings, we enhance our evolution and moral standing, promoting a more humane society.
Themes
Human EvolutionSufferingCompassionSentient BeingsGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
During a talk on ethics, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of treating animals and people with kindness.
More from Annie Besant
All quotes βNo durable things are built on violent passion. Nature grows her plants in silence and in darkness, and only when they have become strong do they put their heads above the ground.
Annie BesantRead
Death consists, indeed, in a repeated process of unrobing, or unsheathing. The immortal part of man shakes off from itself, one after the other, its outer casings, and - as the snake from its skin, the butterfly from its chrysalis - emerges from one after another, passing into a higher state of consciousness.
Annie BesantRead
Let Indian history be set side by side with Europe history with what there is of the latter century by century and let us see whether India need blush at the comparison.
Annie BesantRead
My own life in India, since I came to it in 1893 to make it my home, has been devoted to one purpose, to give back to India her ancient freedom.
Annie BesantRead
Knowledge is essential to conquest; only according to our ignorance are we helpless. Thought creates character. Character can dominate conditions. Will creates circumstances and environment.
Annie BesantRead
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One believes others will do what he will do to himself.
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Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different.
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One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organizations do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.
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I see in the rising crescendo of ethnic tensions, civilization clashes and the use of religious justification for acts of terror, a clear and present danger to humanity.
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A philosopher knows that in reality he knows very little. That is why he constantly strives to achieve true insight. Socrates was one of these rare people. He knew that he knew nothing about life and about the world. And now comes the important part: it troubled him that he knew so little.
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