The people are hungry,” Mihali said. He lifted his hands…
““The people are hungry,” Mihali said. He lifted his hands, spreading them to encompass the city. “The people need to be fed. They need bread and wine and soup and meat. But not just that. They need friendship.” He pointed to a minor noble, some viscount decked out in his finest foppish frills, who poured a bottle of St. Adom’s Festival wine into the cups of a half-dozen street urchins. “They need companionship,” Mihali said. “They need love and brotherhood.” He turned to Tamas. He reached out with one hand, putting a palm to Tamas’s cheek. Instinct told Tamas to step back. He found that he couldn’t. “You gorged them on the blood of the nobility,” Mihali said gently. “They drank, but were not filled. They ate of hatred and grew hungrier.” He took a deep breath. “Your intentions were… well, not pure, but just. Justice is never enough.” He let go of Tamas and turned to the square. “I will put things right,” he said. He puffed out his chest and spread his arms. “I will feed all of Adro. It is what they need.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True nourishment requires not only food but also love, friendship, and justice; material aid alone is insufficient.
In simple terms: People need love, friendship, and justice, not just food.
Key Takeaway
Provide holistic support, not just material aid.
Themes
community
justice
human needs
compassion
Mood
hopeful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- disaster relief
- community building
- policy making
- charitable work
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders combine material aid with emotional support?
- What role does justice play in community healing?
A Different Perspective
Justice alone cannot satisfy basic human needs without empathy.