Idque apud imperitos humanitas vocabatur, cum pars servitutis esset.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humanity is called kindness when it serves the interests of the powerful.
- In plain terms
- People label compassion as humanity only when it benefits those in power.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware of kindness used as a tool for domination.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can you distinguish authentic compassion from self‑serving kindness?
- What signs indicate kindness is being weaponized?
Another view
Not all displays of kindness are insincere; some are truly altruistic.
More from Tacitus
Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
Permalink to quote #2 Et maiores vestros et posteros cogitate.
Permalink to quote #3 Tu vero felix, Agricola, non vitae tantum claritate, sed etiam opportunitate mortis.
Permalink to quote #4
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