--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What quarrel, what harshness, what…" description: "\"What quarrel, what harshness, what unbelief in each other can subsist in the presence of a great calamity, when all the artificial vesture of our life ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-eliot-84_artificial_what-quarrel-what-harshness-what-unbelie_286108.jpg" --- # What quarrel, what harshness, what unbelief in each other… ![“What quarrel, what harshness, what unbelief in each other can subsist in the presence of a great calamity, when all the artificial vesture of our life is gone, and we are all one with each other in primitive mortal needs?” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-eliot-84_artificial_what-quarrel-what-harshness-what-unbelie_286108.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-eliot-84_artificial_what-quarrel-what-harshness-what-unbelie_286108.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/george-eliot-84_artificial_what-quarrel-what-harshness-what-unbelie_286108.jpg) > “What quarrel, what harshness, what unbelief in each other can subsist in the presence of a great calamity, when all the artificial vesture of our life is gone, and we are all one with each other in primitive mortal needs?” [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When disaster strips away social pretenses, humanity’s basic needs reveal our shared vulnerability and compassion. **In simple terms:** Hardship shows our common humanity. Key Takeaway Recognize shared needs in crises. Themes compassion humanity vulnerability social masks Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - natural disasters - war zones - refugee camps - pandemic response Key Concepts existentialism empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain empathy when resources are scarce? - What rituals remind you of shared humanity? A Different Perspective Even in crisis, personal survival instincts can dominate over empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief/) ## Related quotes > [It is surely a great calamity for a human being to have no obsessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/it-is-surely-a-great-calamity-for-a-human-being-to-have-no-obsessions/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [“What makes me liable to great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had not the body, what great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/what-makes-me-liable-to-great-calamity-is-my-having-the-body-which-i/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [A bad neighbor is as great a calamity as a good one is a great advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/a-bad-neighbor-is-as-great-a-calamity-as-a-good-one-is-a-great/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) > [A great calamity is as old as the trilobites an hour after it has happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-great-calamity-is-as-old-as-the-trilobites-an-hour-after-it-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“if I had not the body, what great calamity could come to me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-i-had-not-the-body-what-great-calamity-could-come-to-me/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Without peace there can be no prosperity for any people, rich or poor. 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