Nature Quote by E.M. Forster
““How indeed is it possible for one human being to be sorry for all the sadness that meets him on the face of the earth, for the pain that is endured not only by men, but by animals and plants, and perhaps by the stones?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Passage to India by E.M. Forster, 1924
We feel sorrow for all suffering in the world, extending even to non‑human life and inanimate objects.
In simple terms: Empathy for universal suffering
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared pain across species and matter
Themes
compassion
universality
existentialism
Mood
melancholy
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- activism
- environmental work
- philosophical reflection
Key Concepts
Ethics
Anthropocentrism
Ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits our empathy?
- How can we act on this broad compassion?
A Different Perspective
Skeptics may argue that feeling for stones is absurd
