--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cruelty to men and to the lower animals…" description: "\"Cruelty to men and to the lower animals as well, which would have passed unnoticed a century ago, now shocks the sensibilities and is regarded as wicke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/elihu-root-16522_aggravation_cruelty-to-men-and-to-the-lower-animals_3121911.jpg" --- # Cruelty to men and to the lower animals as well, which… ![“Cruelty to men and to the lower animals as well, which would have passed unnoticed a century ago, now shocks the sensibilities and is regarded as wicked and degrading.” quote by Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/elihu-root-16522_aggravation_cruelty-to-men-and-to-the-lower-animals_3121911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/elihu-root-16522_aggravation_cruelty-to-men-and-to-the-lower-animals_3121911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bb/elihu-root-16522_aggravation_cruelty-to-men-and-to-the-lower-animals_3121911.jpg) > “Cruelty to men and to the lower animals as well, which would have passed unnoticed a century ago, now shocks the sensibilities and is regarded as wicked and degrading.” [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society now condemns cruelty to both humans and animals, a shift from past indifference. **In simple terms:** Cruelty is now seen as immoral. Key Takeaway Promote compassion toward all beings. Themes ethics animal rights humanity Mood concerned hopeful Type ethical social When to use this quote - policy advocacy - education campaigns - personal behavior Key Concepts moral evolution social awareness Questions to Reflect On - What drives the change in moral perception? - How can we further reduce cruelty? A Different Perspective Not all cultures share this view yet. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggravation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggravation/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sensibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensibility/) [Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shock/) ## Related quotes > [I portray myself as wicked, hoping I will not be regarded as wicked. But I may be wicked in the biblical sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-flynn/i-portray-myself-as-wicked-hoping-i-will-not-be-regarded-as-wicked/) [Errol Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-flynn/) > [“It doesn't matter when. Tyrants have been regarded as wicked since olden times, but the twentieth century is full of the tyrants of whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soseki-natsume/it-doesn-t-matter-when-tyrants-have-been-regarded-as-wicked-since/) [Sōseki Natsume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soseki-natsume/) > [As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. 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Men who have practiced tortures on animals without pity, relating them without shame, how can they still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/an-infallible-characteristic-of-meanness-is-cruelty-men-who-have/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Elihu Root > [I guess you will have to go to jail. 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it is a question of declaring and maintaining the great American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/it-is-not-a-question-of-religion-or-of-creed-or-of-party-it-is-a/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [About half the practice of a decent lawyer is telling would-be clients that they are damned fools and should shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/about-half-the-practice-of-a-decent-lawyer-is-telling-would-be/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) [Explore all 39 Elihu Root quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) ## More Aggravation quotes > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [I really never felt any tremendous aggravation or separation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-really-never-felt-any-tremendous-aggravation-or-separation/) [Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/) > [It is time to end the discrimination against people who need treatment for chemical addiction. 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