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Were it only to learn benevolence to humankind, we should be merciful to other creatures.
Plutarch
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Interpretation

What this quote means

We should show kindness to all living beings as a way to cultivate compassion in ourselves.

Plutarch suggests that our treatment of other creatures reflects our understanding and practice of benevolence towards humanity. By extending mercy and kindness to animals and all beings, we develop a more compassionate and empathetic nature, which ultimately benefits our interactions with fellow humans.

Themes

BenevolenceKindnessCompassionMercyHumankindCreatures

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech advocating for animal rights, one might quote Plutarch to emphasize the importance of kindness to all living beings.

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Sometimes small incidents, rather than glorious exploits, give us the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are more exact in doing the face, where the character is revealed, than the rest of the body, I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks of the souls of men.
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It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt.
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