The great fault of all ethics hitherto has been that they believed themselves to have to deal only with the relations of man to man. In reality, however, the question is what is his attitude to the world and all life that comes within his reach. A man is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to him, and that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help. Only the universal ethic of the feeling of responsibility in an ever-widening sphere for all that lives - only that ethic can be founded in thought. ... The ethic of Reverence for Life, therefore, comprehends within itself everything that can be described as love, devotion, and sympathy whether in suffering, joy, or effort.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True ethics extend beyond human relationships to include all living things, requiring a universal sense of responsibility for life.
- In plain terms
- Ethics means respecting and helping all life, not just people.
- What can you take from it?
- Respect every living being as sacred.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How far should your responsibility to life extend?
- Does nature deserve rights equal to humans?
Another view
Defining ethical boundaries for all life can be practically difficult in daily survival.
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