The entire world is my temple, and a very fine one too, if I'm not mistaken, and I'll never lack priests to serve it as long as there are men.
Desiderius ErasmusRead
You'll see certain Pythagorean whose belief in communism of property goes to such lengths that they pick up anything lying about unguarded, and make off with it without a qualm of conscience as if it had come to them by law.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques a misplaced belief in communal ownership that justifies theft.
Desiderius Erasmus reflects on a radical interpretation of communal ownership principles, highlighting how some individuals take ownership of anything unguarded, rationalizing their actions through a flawed understanding of property rights. This perspective raises questions about morality, responsibility, and the ethical implications of communal property systems as they intersect with individual behavior.
Themes
CommunismPropertyTheftMoralityEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on property rights during a philosophy class.
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