The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them... Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.
Michel De MontaigneRead
At one point, early on, some public figures even asked whether it 'made sense' to rebuild New Orleans. Would you let your own mother die because it didn't make financial sense to spend the money to treat her, or because you were too busy to spend the time to heal her sick spirit?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the moral obligation to care for others, prioritizing human dignity over financial considerations.
Tom Piazza's quote highlights the ethical dilemma faced when considering the rebuilding of New Orleans after its devastation. By comparing the city to a mother in need of care, he suggests that the decision to invest in restoration should be based on compassion and humanity rather than merely financial sense, urging people to prioritize emotional and spiritual healing over practicality.
Themes
New OrleansCareHuman DignityRebuildingCompassionFinancial Sense
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about urban renewal, one could quote this to highlight the importance of caring for communities.
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