Genuine good taste consists in saying much in few words, in choosing among our thoughts, in having order and arrangement in what we say, and in speaking with composure.
Francois FenelonRead
All wars are civil wars because all men are brothers... Each one owes infinitely more to the human race than to the particular country in which he was born.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the idea that humanity is interconnected and that obligations to fellow humans outweigh national loyalties.
Francois Fenelon suggests that wars, regardless of their classification, stem from the same fundamental conflict between humans, who are all considered brothers. The sentiment highlights that our responsibilities to the global human community should take precedence over our allegiance to any specific nation, encouraging a more compassionate and unified perspective on global issues and conflicts.
Themes
BrotherhoodHumanityWarLoyaltyCivilConnection
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about global unity, one might quote this to emphasize the need for peace.
More from Francois Fenelon
All quotes →True prayer is only another name for the love of God. Its excellence does not consist in the multitude of our words; for our Father knoweth what things we have need of before we ask Him. The true prayer is that of the heart, and the heart prays only for what it desires. To pray, then is to desire -- but to desire what God would have us desire. He who asks what he does not from the bottom of his heart desire, is mistaken in thinking that he prays.
Francois FenelonRead
The greatest of all crosses is self. If we die in part every day, we shall have but little to do on the last. These little daily deaths will destroy the power of the final dying.
Francois FenelonRead
How rare it is to find a soul quiet enough to hear God speak.
Francois FenelonRead
If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.
Francois FenelonRead
If the crowns of all the kingdoms of the empire were laid down at my feet in exchange for my books and my love of reading I would spurn them all.
Francois FenelonRead
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