We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
We can't plead ignorance, only indifference. Those alive today are the generations that came to know better. We have the burden and the opportunity of living in the moment when the critique of factory farming broke into the popular consciousness. We are the ones of whom it will be fairly asked, What did you do when you learned the truth about eating animals?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes our responsibility to act upon knowledge rather than remain indifferent.
Jonathan Safran Foer's quote challenges us to confront our awareness of ethical issues related to factory farming and animal consumption. It asserts that with greater knowledge comes the responsibility to act, urging individuals to reflect on their choices and the impact those choices have on the world, particularly regarding the treatment of animals. Foer posits that ignorance is no longer an acceptable excuse; instead, we must grapple with our indifference to these issues and decide how we will respond to the truth of our actions.
Themes
ResponsibilityKnowledgeIndifferenceFactory FarmingAnimal RightsEthics
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about animal rights to encourage activism.
More from Jonathan Safran Foer
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A few weeks after the worst day, I started writing lots of letters. I don't know why, but it was one of the only things that made my boots lighter.
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What is being awake if not interpreting our dreams, or dreaming if not interpreting our wake?
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