Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. The roots of cruelty, therefore, are not so much strong as widespread. But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Cruelty mostly stems from thoughtlessness rather than instinct, and thought can overcome it.
- In plain terms
- Most cruelty comes from not thinking, not from being naturally mean.
- What can you take from it?
- Use thought to fight cruelty and protect humanity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much of human cruelty is intentional?
- What role does thinking play in kindness?
Another view
Deeply ingrained habits can be very resistant to change through thought alone.
More from Albert Schweitzer
We came to a tree which was still bare, and on which the birds were singing out gaily in the morning, without any fear of us. Then stooping over like an Indian…
Permalink to quote #33 The great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up. That is possible for him who never argues and strives with men and facts, bu…
Permalink to quote #35 I used to suffer particularly because the poor animals must endure so much pain and want. The sight of an old, limping horse being dragged along by one man whi…
Permalink to quote #32
Related quotes
If there's one thing you can say about mankind, there's nothing kind about man.
Tom WaitsTom Waits quote #9 Men are cruel, but Man is kind.
Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore quote #103 Man is an imagining being.
Gaston BachelardGaston Bachelard quote #17