--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am my brother's keeper, says the…" description: "\"I am my brother's keeper, says the chickenshit liberal. Perhaps he does not realize that he now has more than 2 1/2 billion brothers.\" — Edward Abbey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/edward-abbey-254_billions_i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-says-the-chicke_3111482.jpg" --- # I am my brother's keeper, says the chickenshit liberal… ![“I am my brother's keeper, says the chickenshit liberal. Perhaps he does not realize that he now has more than 2 1/2 billion brothers.” quote by Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/edward-abbey-254_billions_i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-says-the-chicke_3111482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/edward-abbey-254_billions_i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-says-the-chicke_3111482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/edward-abbey-254_billions_i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-says-the-chicke_3111482.jpg) > “I am my brother's keeper, says the chickenshit liberal. Perhaps he does not realize that he now has more than 2 1/2 billion brothers.” [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker critiques liberal hypocrisy, noting that many claim moral superiority while being part of a massive, interconnected humanity. **In simple terms:** Criticizing moral superiority claims. Key Takeaway Question collective responsibility. Themes hypocrisy environment humanity Mood critical thoughtful Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - environmental activism - social media debates Key Concepts ethical relativism population awareness Questions to Reflect On - Do we truly consider our impact on others? - How does recognizing shared humanity change our actions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billion Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billion-brothers-5434872/) [Billions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billions/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brother Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother-keeper-991742/) [Brother's Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-keeper/) [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Chickenshit Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chickenshit-liberal-5434871/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Keepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keepers/) [My brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-brother/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Says Chickenshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-chickenshit-5434873/) ## Related quotes > [Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ''Am I my brother's keeper?'' That question has never yet been answered in a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/thousands-of-years-ago-the-question-was-asked-am-i-my-brother-s/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“Am I my brother's keeper? Yes. Interestingly, in my case, I share that honor with the Prospect Park Zoo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/am-i-my-brother-s-keeper-yes-interestingly-in-my-case-i-share-that/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [If you ask, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer is, "You are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-randolph-hearst/if-you-ask-am-i-my-brother-s-keeper-the-answer-is-you-are/) [William Randolph Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-randolph-hearst/) > [The idea that we are our brother's keeper and our sister's keeper. That we should treat others as we would want to be treated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-idea-that-we-are-our-brother-s-keeper-and-our-sister-s-keeper/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There is always a chance that he who sets himself up as his brother's keeper will end up by being his jail-keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-is-always-a-chance-that-he-who-sets-himself-up-as-his-brother-s/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [ American life is builded ... upon that fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior nineteen centuries ago ... \[It\] can not survive with the defense… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/american-life-is-builded-upon-that-fundamental-philosophy-announced/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [I can't think of anyone I've mistreated. I've always thought that I am my brother's keeper. And I believe there's a 'great spirit' that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-can-t-think-of-anyone-i-ve-mistreated-i-ve-always-thought-that-i-am/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [ America's not just \[about\] looking out for yourself, it's not just about greed, it's not just about trying to climb to the very top… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-s-not-just-about-looking-out-for-yourself-it-s-not-just-about/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/yes-i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-i-am-under-a-moral-obligation-to-him/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [I believe that we're only as strong as our neighbor is, and the idea that, I'm my brother's keeper works for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/i-believe-that-we-re-only-as-strong-as-our-neighbor-is-and-the-idea/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Although I may not be my brother's keeper, I am my brother's brother, and 'because I have been given much, I too must give.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/although-i-may-not-be-my-brother-s-keeper-i-am-my-brother-s-brother/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [There is a growing threat to the environment, to the vegetation, animals, water and air. Sacred Scripture hands us the image of Cain who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/there-is-a-growing-threat-to-the-environment-to-the-vegetation/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [A quiz: If I am my brother's keeper, who am I? (Answer: me.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/a-quiz-if-i-am-my-brother-s-keeper-who-am-i-answer-me/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > ["Am I my brother's keeper?" There you have the whole Biblical understanding that you are your brother's keeper. You also have a whole other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/am-i-my-brother-s-keeper-there-you-have-the-whole-biblical/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“I AM my Brother's Keeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-am-my-brother-s-keeper/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More by Edward Abbey > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Apuleius married a rich widow, then wrote \_The Golden Ass\_.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/apuleius-married-a-rich-widow-then-wrote-the-golden-ass/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Except for the scale of the operation, there was nothing unusual about Hitler's massacre of the Jews. Genocide's an old tradition, as human as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/except-for-the-scale-of-the-operation-there-was-nothing-unusual-about/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [By the age of eighteen, a human has acquired enough joy and heartache to provide the food of reflection for a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/by-the-age-of-eighteen-a-human-has-acquired-enough-joy-and-heartache/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“Our institutions are too big; they represent not the best but the worst characteristics of human beings. 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Why this cult of wilderness? Why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/but-why-the-questioner-insists-why-do-people-like-you-pretend-to-love/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Civilization is a youth with a molotov cocktail in his hand. Culture is the Soviet tank or L.A. cop that guns him down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/civilization-is-a-youth-with-a-molotov-cocktail-in-his-hand-culture/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All revolutions have failed? Perhaps. But rebellion for good cause is self- justifying -- a good in itself. Rebellion transforms slaves into human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/all-revolutions-have-failed-perhaps-but-rebellion-for-good-cause-is/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“Me, I'm living under a sword too, as Jack may have told you. 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