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Remember the rights of the savage, as we call him. Remember that the happiness of his humble home, remember that the sanctity of life in the hill villages of Afghanistan among the winter snows, are as sacred in the eye of Almighty God as are your own. Remember that He who has united you together as human beings in the same flesh and blood, has bound you by the law of mutual love, that that mutual love is not limited by the shores of this island, is not limited by the boundaries of Christian civilisation, that it passes over the whole surface of the earth, and embraces the meanest along with the greatest in its wide scope.

William Ewart Gladstone#17

RightsEqualityGodHuman rightsHumanityWorld

About this quote

What does it mean?
He urges recognizing the humanity and sacredness of all people, including colonial subjects.
In plain terms
All humans are equal in God's eyes, regardless of location or status.
What can you take from it?
Recognize the humanity in everyone.

Where it applies

  • foreign policy
  • humanitarian aid
  • colonial criticism

Putting it to work

  • advocating for indigenous rights
  • promoting humanitarian aid
  • critiquing imperialism

Questions to consider

  • Who counts as human?
  • How to apply this globally?

Another view

It may conflict with prevailing imperial policies.

More from William Ewart Gladstone

  1. The disease of an evil conscience is beyond the practice of all the physicians of all the countries in the world.

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. Here is my first principle of foreign policy: good government at home.

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. National injustice is the surest road to national downfall.

    Permalink to quote #15

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