That's your cruelty, that's what's mean and selfish about…
““That's your cruelty, that's what's mean and selfish about you. If you loved your brother, you'd give him a job he didn't deserve, precisely because he didn't deserve it--that would be true love and kindness and brotherhood. Else what's love for? If a man deserves a job, there's no virtue in giving it to him. Virtue is the giving of the undeserved.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True virtue lies in giving what is undeserved, not rewarding merit; love is shown by self‑less generosity toward those who do not earn it
In simple terms: Virtue is giving the undeserved
Key Takeaway
Practice self‑less generosity
Themes
ethics
individualism
love
Mood
provocative
challenging
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- workplace decisions
- family dynamics
- political discourse
Key Concepts
altruism
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it always noble to reward the undeserved?
- How does this view affect societal expectations of fairness?
A Different Perspective
May conflict with merit‑based systems and fairness