Acts of violence Quote by Benjamin Rush
“In Macbeth a lady is restrained from the murder of a king by his resemblance of her father as he slept. Should not all men be restrained from acts of violence and even of unkindness against their fellow men by observing in them something which resembles the Savior of the World? If nothing else certainly, a human figure?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the American Philosophical Society, 1790
Violence can be curbed by recognizing shared humanity in others, especially their likeness to a higher moral exemplar.
In simple terms: Seeing humanity in others reduces violent impulses.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate empathy for others.
Themes
ethics
violence
empathy
humanity
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- community building
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster empathy in hostile environments?
- What limits does empathy have in preventing violence?
A Different Perspective
Empathy alone may not stop all aggression.
![“[W]here there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.” quote by Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b9e/benjamin-rush-9439_certain_w-here-there-is-no-law-there-is-no-liber_240226.jpg)
![“The business of education has lay[ed] the foundations for nurseries of wise and good men, to adapt our modes of teaching to the peculiar form of our government . . . . He must be taught to love his fellow creatures in every part of the world, but he must cherish with a more intense and peculiar…” quote by Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9a/benjamin-rush-9439_affection_the-business-of-education-has-lay-ed-the_334284.jpg)
