To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is Godlike.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Feeling sympathy for suffering is a basic human trait, but taking action to alleviate it is a higher, divine quality.
- In plain terms
- It is human to feel sorry for pain, but godlike to fix it.
- What can you take from it?
- Action matters more than sympathy.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is one small way you can relieve distress today?
- How do you balance feeling pity with taking action?
Another view
Not everyone has the resources to relieve distress even if they want to.
More from Horace Mann
But let a man know that there are things to be known, of which he is ignorant, and it is so much carved out of his domain of universal knowledge.
Permalink to quote #4 The object of punishment is, prevention from evil; it never can be made impulsive to good.
Permalink to quote #6 Every addition to true knowledge is an addition to human power.
Permalink to quote #3
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