Agony Quote by Emma Goldman
“Have not all theists painted their Deity as the god of love and goodness? Yet after thousands of years of such preachments the gods remain deaf to the agony of the human race. Confucius cares not for the poverty, squalor and misery of the people of China. Buddha remains undisturbed in his philosophical indifference to the famine and starvation of outraged Hindoos; Jahve continues deaf to the bitter cry of Israel; while Jesus refuses to rise from the dead against his Christians who are butchering each other.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Anarchist critique of religion, 1910
Religions claim love and goodness yet often ignore human suffering, showing a disconnect between doctrine and reality.
In simple terms: Religion often fails to alleviate suffering.
Key Takeaway
Question faith’s role in social justice.
Themes
faith
hypocrisy
human suffering
justice
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
activist
When to use this quote
- humanitarian aid
- policy reform
- interfaith dialogue
- activism
Key Concepts
theodicy
moral responsibility
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can individuals take when institutions fail?
- How do personal beliefs influence social responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Religious institutions can also be sources of comfort and aid.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
