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The real point is that you cannot harbor malice toward others and then cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise up against them all, including your own. Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently.
Harvey Fierstein
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Interpretation

What this quote means

You cannot complain about others' intolerance if you hold onto your own prejudices. Stand against hate universally, including your own biases.

This quote emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and the necessity of confronting our own biases if we are to speak out against the intolerance of others. It asserts that holding onto malice or prejudice not only undermines our credibility when opposing hate but also contributes to a culture of intolerance. To truly rise against hatred, we must acknowledge and challenge our own prejudices, or else we risk facing the consequences of our silence and complicity.

Themes

ToleranceIntolerancePrejudiceSelf-ReflectionHateCourage

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech on social justice, this quote can be used to encourage people to examine their own beliefs.

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