It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, 'the greatest', but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.
Interpretation
A country does not need to be the greatest; it only needs to be good in its actions and values.
Sydney J. Harris emphasizes that the quest for greatness is often misguided for a nation. Instead, the focus should be on goodness, which reflects moral integrity and ethical behavior. Greatness can be subjective and often comes with competition and conflict, while goodness is universally valued and leads to compassion and justice for all citizens.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech about ethical governance during a political rally.
A person is either himself or not himself; is either rooted in his existence or is a fabrication; has either found his humanhood or is still playing with masks and roles and status symbols. And nobody is more aware of this difference (although unconsciously) than a child. Only an authentic person can evoke a good response in the core of the other person; only person is resonant to person.
We evaluate others with a Godlike justice, but we want them to evaluate us with a Godlike compassion.
The commonest fallacy among women is that simply having children makes them a mother - which is as absurd as believing that having a piano makes one a musician.
Man's unique agony as a species consists in his perpetual conflict between the desire to stand out and the need to blend in.
"Terrorism" is what we call the violence of the weak, and we condemn it; "war" is what we call the violence of the strong, and we glorify it.
At it's highest level, the purpose of teaching is not to teachβit is to inspire the desire for learning. Once a student's mind is set on fire, it will find a way to provide its own fuel.
How is the world ruled and led to war? Diplomats lie to journalists and believe these lies when they see them in print.
Nevertheless, it is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man.
Nationalism: One of the effective ways in which the modern man escapes life's ethical problems.
In one way, I suppose, I have been 'in denial' for some time, knowingly burning the candle at both ends and finding that it often gives a lovely light.
Not as common bread or as common drink do we receive these.....We have been taught that the food that has been Eucharistized by the word of prayer, that food which by assimilation nourishes our flesh and blood, is the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus.
You wish me to tell you why and how God should be loved. My answer is that God himself is the reason he is to be loved.
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