Being true Quote by Edward Abbey
“All men are brothers, we like to say, half-wishing sometimes in secret it were not true. But perhaps it is true. And is the evolutionary line from protozoan to Spinoza any less certain? That also may be true. We are obliged, therefore, to spread the news, painful and bitter though it may be for some to hear, that all living things on earth are kindred.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Desert Solitaire, 1968
Humanity shares a deep biological kinship, suggesting moral responsibility toward all life forms.
In simple terms: All living beings are related, urging care for each other.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and act on our shared kinship.
Themes
ethics
environment
interconnectedness
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- conservation work
- environmental education
- community building
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
biological kinship
philosophical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing kinship change your daily choices?
- What responsibilities arise from this view?
A Different Perspective
The metaphorical language may obscure scientific specifics.
![“[For] men to whom nothing seems great but reason ... nature ... is a cosmos, so admirable, that to penetrate to its ways seems to them the only thing that makes life worth living. These are the men whom we see possessed by a passion to learn ... Those are the natural scientific men; and they are…” quote by Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b9/charles-sanders-peirce-5105_admirable_for-men-to-whom-nothing-seems-great-but_2407623.jpg)
