If you don't have a moral question governing your society, then you don't have a society that is going to survive.
Oren LyonsRead
Even through you and I are in different boats, you in your boat and we our canoe, we share the same river of life. What befalls me befalls you. And downstream, downstream in this river of life, our children will pay for our selfishness, for our greed, and for our lack of vision.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We are all connected in life, and our actions impact others, especially future generations.
This quote by Oren Lyons emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity. Despite our individual circumstances, we all navigate the same fundamental experiences of life, which requires us to acknowledge our shared responsibilities. Our decisions today, especially those driven by selfishness or greed, will have repercussions not only for ourselves but also for our children and the world they inherit. Thus, it calls for greater vision and awareness of our collective existence.
Themes
InterconnectednessResponsibilityFuture GenerationsActionsLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a keynote speech about environmental sustainability, one could use this quote to highlight shared responsibility.
More from Oren Lyons
All quotes →Man sometimes thinks he's been elevated to be the controller, the ruler, but he's not. He's only part of the whole. Man's job is not to exploit, but to oversee, to be a steward. Man has responsibility, not power.
Oren LyonsRead
Although we are in different boats you in your boat and we in our canoe we share the same river of life.
Oren LyonsRead
We say that the faces of coming generations are looking up from the earth. So when you put your feet down, you put them down very carefully - because there are generations coming one after the other. If you think in these terms, then you'll walk a lot more carefully, be more respectful of this earth.
Oren LyonsRead
When we walk upon Mother Earth,_x000D_ we always plant our feet carefully_x000D_ because we know the faces of our future generations_x000D_ are looking up at us from beneath the ground._x000D_ we never forget them.
Oren LyonsRead
We have to do that. We have to be thankful. That's what we said. Two things were told to us: To be thankful, so those are our ceremonies, ceremonies of thanksgiving. We built nations around it, and you can do that, too. And the other thing they said was enjoy life. That's a rule, a law- enjoy life- you're supposed to.
Oren LyonsRead
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