--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Slavery is as old as civilization, and…" description: "\"“Slavery is as old as civilization, and has been practiced all over the world. It was ubiquitous in antiquity, and is taken for granted in both the Old..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/david-livingstone-smith-27767_fear_slavery-is-as-old-as-civilization-and-ha_1903493.jpg" --- # Slavery is as old as civilization, and has been practiced… ![“Slavery is as old as civilization, and has been practiced all over the world. It was ubiquitous in antiquity, and is taken for granted in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible (you may recall that Paul enjoined slaves to obey their masters “in fear and trembling” as they would Christ),” quote by David Livingstone Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/david-livingstone-smith-27767_fear_slavery-is-as-old-as-civilization-and-ha_1903493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/david-livingstone-smith-27767_fear_slavery-is-as-old-as-civilization-and-ha_1903493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a38/david-livingstone-smith-27767_fear_slavery-is-as-old-as-civilization-and-ha_1903493.jpg) > ““Slavery is as old as civilization, and has been practiced all over the world. It was ubiquitous in antiquity, and is taken for granted in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible (you may recall that Paul enjoined slaves to obey their masters “in fear and trembling” as they would Christ),”” [David Livingstone Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Slavery has existed throughout history, even in religious texts, showing its deep-rooted presence in civilization. **In simple terms:** Slavery is a longstanding, widespread human practice. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront historical injustices. Themes history ethics human rights religion Mood somber thoughtful Type historical ethical When to use this quote - education - activism - policy reform Key Concepts moral philosophy social critique cultural analysis Questions to Reflect On - How does history shape current injustices? - What responsibilities do we have to address them? A Different Perspective Acknowledging past slavery can be uncomfortable and may clash with cultural narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization Practiced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-practiced-1925385/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Old and new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-and-new/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slavery Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery-old-608446/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Slaves Obey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves-obey-2440911/) [Taken for granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-for-granted/) ## Related quotes > [“if you think you see no slaves in pennsylvania," replies capt. zhang, his face as smooth as suet, "why, look again. they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/if-you-think-you-see-no-slaves-in-pennsylvania-replies-capt-zhang-his/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [“The cool contemplation of other people's suffering while one exhibits polished manners in a society that is deemed civil is only a shade less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stjepan-mestrovic/the-cool-contemplation-of-other-people-s-suffering-while-one-exhibits/) [Stjepan Mestrovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stjepan-mestrovic/) > [“Civilization, as it is often practiced today, is really manufactured, inauthentic civilization”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stjepan-mestrovic/civilization-as-it-is-often-practiced-today-is-really-manufactured/) [Stjepan Mestrovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stjepan-mestrovic/) > [Slaves have to obey their masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bright/slaves-have-to-obey-their-masters/) [Bill Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bright/) > [“The gospel turns that drudgery into delight. 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