In men whom men condemn as ill I find so much of goodness still. In men whom men pronounce divine I find so much of sin and blot I do not dare to draw a line Between the two, where God has not.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker notes that both condemned and praised humans contain mixed goodness and sin.
- In plain terms
- Good people have flaws and bad people have good in them, so we should not judge too quickly.
- What can you take from it?
- Human nature is mixed; avoid absolute judgments.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where do you see goodness in unlikely places?
- How do you handle your own flaws?
Another view
It challenges rigid moral categories which some may find difficult.
More from Joaquin Miller
The very clouds have wept and died And only God is in the sky.
Permalink to quote #2 I saw the lightning's gleaming rod Reach forth and write upon the sky The awful autograph of God.
Permalink to quote #1
Related quotes
Are you a man? Then you should have an human heart. But have you indeed? What is your heart made of? Is there no such principle as Compassion there? Do you nev…
John WesleyJohn Wesley quote #9 Aloof with hermit-eye I scan The present works of present man - A wild and dreamlike trade of blood and guile, Too foolish for a tear, too wicked for a smile!
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeSamuel Taylor Coleridge quote #11 Hate the sin and not the sinner.
Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi quote #90