Animal Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
“Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Parerga and Paralipomena, 1851
Treating animals kindly reflects a virtuous character; cruelty to them signals moral deficiency.
In simple terms: Kindness to animals shows good character.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate compassion for all beings.
Themes
ethics
animal welfare
character
morality
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- pet ownership
- volunteering at shelters
- advocating animal rights
- teaching children empathy
Key Concepts
virtue ethics
empathy
moral psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your treatment of animals reflect your broader ethics?
- Can cruelty be compartmentalized?
A Different Perspective
Compassion alone doesn't guarantee overall goodness; other virtues matter.
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
