And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
You understand that the piggies are animals, and you no more condemn them for murdering Libo and Pipo than you condemn a cabra for shewing up capim." That's right," said Miro. Ender smiled. "And that's why you'll never learn anything from them. Because you think of them as animals.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on how perspectives shape our understanding of morality and learning.
In this quote, the characters discuss the nature of understanding and condemnation, comparing human judgment to the instinctual behaviors of animals. It highlights the limitations of viewing others through a purely animalistic lens, suggesting that doing so hinders the ability to learn from different perspectives, ultimately pointing out that understanding others requires recognizing their humanity rather than reducing them to mere animals.
Themes
UnderstandingMoralityLearningPerspectiveJudgment
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about environmental ethics, this quote could illustrate arguments about animal rights.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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