On the one hand, we are faced with the stewardship of this beautiful, subtle, incredibly delicate, fragile planet. On the other, we confront the destiny of our fellow man, our brothers. How can we say that we are followers of Christ if this dual responsibility does not seem to us the essence and heart of our religion?
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the dual responsibility of caring for the planet and humanity as core to religious belief.
Barbara Ward highlights the moral obligation of humanity to both protect the earth and care for others, stressing that true following of Christ encompasses these responsibilities. She suggests that stewardship of the planet and compassion for fellow humans are essential elements of faith, and one cannot neglect either aspect.
In practice
In a church sermon discussing environmental responsibility, this quote could inspire action.
We cannot cheat on DNA. We cannot get round photosynthesis. We cannot say I am not going to give a damn about phytoplankton. All these tiny mechanisms provide the preconditions of our planetary life. To say we do not care is to say in the most literal sense that "we choose death."
Tyranny is for the worst of treasons.
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded.
I'm a private intellectual, not a public one.
Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God.
Only her tight, tight eyes were left. They were always left...They were everything. Everything was there, in them...Thrown, in this way, into the binding conviction that only a miracle could relieve her, she would never know her beauty. She would see only what there was to see: the eyes of other people.
We may not live in the past, but the past lives in us.
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