The Tin Woodman knew very well he had no heart, and therefore he took great care never to be cruel or unkind to anything. 'You people with hearts,' he said, 'have something to guide you, and need never do wrong; but I have no heart, and so I must be very careful. When Oz gives me a heart of course I needn't mind so much.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The Tin Woodman acts kindly because he lacks a heart, realizing he must be careful to avoid doing wrong.
- In plain terms
- Without a heart to guide him, the Tin Woodman must be very careful to be kind.
- What can you take from it?
- Without feelings, extra care is needed to be good.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you act right without thinking?
- Is empathy learned or natural?
Another view
Being careful does not guarantee moral perfection.
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