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About this quote

What does it mean?
Be careful accepting sacrifices from others without making your own. Gratitude without personal cost can be shallow.
In plain terms
Don't just thank others for sacrificing if you haven't sacrificed anything yourself.
What can you take from it?
Gratitude requires personal investment.

Where it applies

  • reflecting on privilege
  • discussing civic duty
  • evaluating gratitude

Putting it to work

  • make your own sacrifices
  • understand costs
  • avoid easy gratitude

Questions to consider

  • What have you sacrificed for others?
  • Is gratitude enough?

Another view

Sometimes accepting help is necessary even if you cannot give back equally.

More from Wendell Berry

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  2. Let us have the candor to acknowledge that what we call 'the economy' or 'the free market' is less and less distinguishable from warfare. For about half of the…

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  3. Violence breeds violence. Acts of violence committed in 'justice' or in affirmation of 'rights' or in defense of 'peace' do not end violence. They prepare and …

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