The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march to fate abreast.
John Greenleaf WhittierRead
If it be not a sin, an open, flagrant violation of all the rules of justice and humanity, to hold these slaves in bondage, it is indeed folly to put ourselves to any trouble and expense in order to free them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions the morality of maintaining slavery while considering the efforts to abolish it.
Samuel Hopkins' quote critiques the hypocrisy of a society that condones slavery while simultaneously discussing the moral obligations to free enslaved individuals. It highlights the contradiction of deeming slavery a 'flagrant violation' of justice and humanity while not taking genuine action towards its abolition. The emphasis lies on the folly of expending resources to free individuals from an institution that should not exist in the first place, challenging the ethical fabric of society.
Themes
SlaveryJusticeMoralityHypocrisyFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on the historical impact of slavery at a university seminar.
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