As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual freedom, for man's free agency is a God-given gift.
David O. MckayRead
The rising sun can dispel the darkness of night, but it cannot banish the blackness of malice, hatred, bigotry, and selfishness from the hearts of humanity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The power of goodness and light can't remove the negativity and malice that exists in human hearts.
This quote emphasizes that while the arrival of positivity and enlightenment, represented by the rising sun, can eliminate ignorance and despair symbolized by darkness, it cannot eradicate the deeper, more pervasive issues of malice, hatred, bigotry, and selfishness. These qualities are intrinsic to humanity and require conscious efforts to overcome, pointing to the necessity of moral and ethical responsibility for individuals and society.
Themes
LightDarknessMaliceHumanityPositivityNegativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social justice, this quote can underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of prejudice.
More from David O. Mckay
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Happiness and peace will come to earth only as the light of love and human compassion enter the souls of men.
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Out of the homes of America will come the future citizens of America, and only as those homes are what they should be will this nation be what it should be.
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There are seeds of happiness planted in every human soul. Our mental attitude and disposition constitute the environment in which these seeds may germinate.
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