Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Joseph AddisonRead
To be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities, is the glory of man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Justice is a divine quality, and striving for it is humanity's greatest achievement.
In this quote, Joseph Addison emphasizes that while true justice is a quality that belongs to the divine, the pursuit of justice to the best of our abilities is what elevates humanity. It suggests that our efforts to be just, fair, and equitable reflect our highest moral character, and this aspiration is what brings honor and glory to mankind. Striving for justice, even if we cannot achieve perfection, is a noble goal that defines our humanity.
Themes
JusticeHumanityMoralDivineGlory
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate about social justice, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of striving for fairness.
More from Joseph Addison
All quotes βGood nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.
Joseph AddisonRead
Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.
Joseph AddisonRead
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
Joseph AddisonRead
It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
Joseph AddisonRead
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
Joseph AddisonRead
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