Ideas don't desert you; ideas aren't treasonous to you, but people can be.
All religions and cultures suffer from sources that preach hate against the 'other.' Throughout history some have, tragically, practiced what their sources preached, while some have sought to dismiss or even counteract the hateful words of their sources.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the tendency of various religions and cultures to have elements that promote hatred towards others, while some individuals actively oppose that hate.
Alan Dershowitz's quote reflects on a critical aspect of religious and cultural discourse, indicating that many belief systems contain texts or teachings that incite negativity or hatred towards those who are different. However, it also acknowledges the efforts of some individuals who strive to reject or mitigate the harmful messages, emphasizing the duality of human response to such divisive rhetoric throughout history.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion on the importance of interfaith dialogue to promote understanding.
More from Alan Dershowitz
All quotes →Ed Koch will never "rest in peace." That was not his way. He was always nervously squirming, while making others squirm as well. Comfort was not his goal. He understood that to be a proud and assertive Jew meant never being able to leave a sigh of relief and say "it's over, we are at peace, we can now put down our guard and relax."
It's never acceptable to target civilians. It violates the Geneva Accords, it violates the international law of war and it violates all principles of morality.
When I was growing up, my mother would always say, 'It will go on your permanent record.' There was no 'permanent record.' If there were a 'permanent record,' I'd never be able to be a lawyer. I was such a bum, in elementary school and high school... There is a permanent record today and it's called the Internet.
A good lawyer knows how to shut up when he's won his case.
Scientists search for truth. Philosophers search for morality. A criminal trial searches for only one result: proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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