A coin is turned around before it is handed to the beggar, yet a child is unflinchingly tossed into cosmic bruteness.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the contrasting treatment of objects and living beings, questioning the value placed on human life compared to material possessions.
Zapffe's quote highlights a profound philosophical observation about the human condition. It suggests that while a coin—a mere object—is carefully handled and turned before being given away, a child's life is sometimes subjected to the harsh realities of existence without consideration or compassion. This stark contrast provokes thought about how society often prioritizes material things over the well-being and dignity of individuals.
In practice
In a discussion about societal priorities, one might use this quote to illustrate the value we attach to possessions over human lives.
Man beholds the earth, and it is breathing like a great lung; whenever it exhales, delightful life swarms from all its pores and reaches out toward the sun, but when it inhales, a moan of rupture passes through the multitude, and corpses whip the ground like bouts of hail.
The tragedy of a species becoming unfit for life by over-evolving one ability is not confined to humankind. Thus it is thought, for instance, that certain deer in paleontological times succumbed as they acquired overly-heavy horns. The mutations must be considered blind, they work, are thrown forth, without any contact of interest with their environment. In depressive states, the mind may be seen in the image of such an antler, in all its fantastic splendour pinning its bearer to the ground.
When a human being takes his life in depression, this is a natural death of spiritual causes. The modern barbarity of 'saving' the suicidal is based on a hair-raising misapprehension of the nature of existence.
As long as humankind recklessly proceeds in the fateful delusion of being biologically fated for triumph, nothing essential will change.
The seed of a metaphysical or religious defeat is in us all. For the honest questioner, however, who doesn't seek refuge in some faith or fantasy, there will never be an answer.
After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say 'I want to see the manager.'
A bad conscience is easier to cope with than a bad reputation.
But thy strong Hours indignant work’d their wills, And beat me down and marr’d and wasted me, And tho’ they could not end me, left me maim’d To dwell in presence of immortal youth, Immortal age beside immortal youth, And all I was, in ashes. - Tithonus
The resurrection completes the inauguration of God's kingdom. . . . It is the decisive event demonstrating thet God's kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven." "The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it.
Personal purity isn’t really the issue. Not supporting animal abuse – and persuading others not to support it – is.
Perhaps his might be one of the natures where a wise estimate of consequences is fused in the fires of that passionate belief which determines the consequences it believes in.
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