--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not understand a mind which sees a…" description: "\"I do not understand a mind which sees a gracious beneficence in spending money to slay and maim human beings in almost unimaginable numbers and depreca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/harry-s-truman-898_beneficence_i-do-not-understand-a-mind-which-sees-a_2108829.jpg" --- # I do not understand a mind which sees a gracious… ![“I do not understand a mind which sees a gracious beneficence in spending money to slay and maim human beings in almost unimaginable numbers and deprecates the expenditure of a smaller sum to patch up the ills of mankind.” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/harry-s-truman-898_beneficence_i-do-not-understand-a-mind-which-sees-a_2108829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/harry-s-truman-898_beneficence_i-do-not-understand-a-mind-which-sees-a_2108829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/harry-s-truman-898_beneficence_i-do-not-understand-a-mind-which-sees-a_2108829.jpg) > “I do not understand a mind which sees a gracious beneficence in spending money to slay and maim human beings in almost unimaginable numbers and deprecates the expenditure of a smaller sum to patch up the ills of mankind.” [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## 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 condemns spending huge sums on war while neglecting smaller humanitarian needs. **In simple terms:** War spending vs. humanitarian aid. Key Takeaway Advocate balanced resource allocation. Themes war humanitarianism budget ethics Mood critical political Type policy ethical When to use this quote - government budgeting - foreign aid - public debate Key Concepts political economy moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How to reconcile defense and aid? - What criteria should guide spending? A Different Perspective Security concerns often dominate budgets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficence/) [Beneficence Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficence-spending-4247645/) [Expenditures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expenditures/) [Gracious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gracious/) [Gracious Beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gracious-beneficence-4247647/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ills Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ills-mankind-4247646/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Patch up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patch-up/) [Patches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patches/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Spending money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending-money/) [Understand Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-mind-446188/) [Unimaginable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unimaginable/) ## Related quotes > [“All of the ills of mankind, all of the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books ...have arisen merely from a lack of skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/all-of-the-ills-of-mankind-all-of-the-tragic-misfortunes-that-fill/) [Molière](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [All the ills of mankind spring from belonging to a race, a nation, a city, a group of some kind. The ideal would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-dudek/all-the-ills-of-mankind-spring-from-belonging-to-a-race-a-nation-a/) [Louis Dudek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-dudek/) > [Patch up thine old body for heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/patch-up-thine-old-body-for-heaven/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Who to patch up his fame, or fill his purse, Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse; Like gypsies, lest the stolen brat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/who-to-patch-up-his-fame-or-fill-his-purse-still-pilfers-wretched/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [Death. To die. To expire. To pass on. To perish. To peg out. To push up daisies. To push up posies. To become extinct.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patch-adams/death-to-die-to-expire-to-pass-on-to-perish-to-peg-out-to-push-up/) [Patch Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patch-adams/) > [Like a medical procedure,' Ruth said. 'Intricate surgery is needed to patch up the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/like-a-medical-procedure-ruth-said-intricate-surgery-is-needed-to/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [With his nightcaps and the tatters of his dressing-gown he patches up the gaps in the structure of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/with-his-nightcaps-and-the-tatters-of-his-dressing-gown-he-patches-up/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [One of the symptoms of a declining social order is that its members have to give most of their time to politics, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/one-of-the-symptoms-of-a-declining-social-order-is-that-its-members/) [Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/) > [Processions that lack high stilts have nothing that catches the eye. What if my great-granddad had a pair that were twenty foot high, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/processions-that-lack-high-stilts-have-nothing-that-catches-the-eye/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“The smoke burns slightly down my throat and to my lungs. I focus on this, and empty my head, empty the images of Skye’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-witter/the-smoke-burns-slightly-down-my-throat-and-to-my-lungs-i-focus-on/) [Stephanie Witter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-witter/) > [A person taking stock in middle age is like an artist or composer looking at an unfinished work; but whereas the composer and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-broudy/a-person-taking-stock-in-middle-age-is-like-an-artist-or-composer/) [Harry S. Broudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-broudy/) > [God does not patch up the old life, or make certain repairs on the old life; He gives a new life, through the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-kuhlman/god-does-not-patch-up-the-old-life-or-make-certain-repairs-on-the-old/) [Kathryn Kuhlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-kuhlman/) > [“With you and me, I don't know what anything means. We're pushing each other away and yet I don't seem to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-witter/with-you-and-me-i-don-t-know-what-anything-means-we-re-pushing-each/) [Stephanie Witter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-witter/) > [“It's not as if we're running a hospital for sick children down here, let's put it that way. Where's the nobility in patching up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-s-not-as-if-we-re-running-a-hospital-for-sick-children-down-here/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [What is really important you can't understand with your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/what-is-really-important-you-can-t-understand-with-your-mind/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) ## More by Harry S. Truman > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and-would-rather-be-remarked-for/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It is ignorance that causes most mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-is-ignorance-that-causes-most-mistakes/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Most of the time most people know the right thing to do ...its the doing of it that gives them trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/most-of-the-time-most-people-know-the-right-thing-to-do-its-the-doing/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/secrecy-and-a-free-democratic-government-don-t-mix/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It can be lost, and it will be, if the time ever comes when these documents are regarded not as the supreme expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-can-be-lost-and-it-will-be-if-the-time-ever-comes-when-these/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The United States should not under any circumstances throw away our gun until we are sure the rest of the world cannot arm against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-united-states-should-not-under-any-circumstances-throw-away-our/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the individual, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-maintains-that-government-is-established-for-the-benefit-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Although I hold the highest civil honour in the world, I have always regarded my rank and title as a Past Grand Master of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/although-i-hold-the-highest-civil-honour-in-the-world-i-have-always/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Some of the presidents were great and some of them weren't. I can say that, because I wasn't one of the great presidents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-of-the-presidents-were-great-and-some-of-them-weren-t-i-can-say/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [A person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/a-person-who-is-fundamentally-honest-doesn-t-need-a-code-of-ethics/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our goal must not be peace in our time but peace for all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/our-goal-must-not-be-peace-in-our-time-but-peace-for-all-time/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) [Explore all 336 Harry S. Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## More Beneficence quotes > [Private beneficence is totally inadequate to deal with the vast numbers of the city's disinherited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/private-beneficence-is-totally-inadequate-to-deal-with-the-vast/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [The moral duty of man consists of imitatingthe moral goodness and beneficence of God,manifested in the creation, toward all His creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-moral-duty-of-man-consists-of-imitatingthe-moral-goodness-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The indescribable innocence of and beneficence of Nature,-of sun and wind and rain, of summer and winter,-such health, such cheer, they afford forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-indescribable-innocence-of-and-beneficence-of-nature-of-sun-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [That is a true sentiment which makes us feel that we do not love our country less, but more, because we have laid up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/that-is-a-true-sentiment-which-makes-us-feel-that-we-do-not-love-our/) [Arthur Penrhyn Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-penrhyn-stanley/) > [To act and act wisely when the time for action comes, to wait and wait patiently when it is time for repose, put man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/to-act-and-act-wisely-when-the-time-for-action-comes-to-wait-and-wait/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [The state has physical power and uses it when necessary; the power of religion is love and beneficence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-mendelssohn/the-state-has-physical-power-and-uses-it-when-necessary-the-power-of/) [Moses Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-mendelssohn/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“Virtue . . . is nearly connected with the heart: I have called it Beneficence; not in the very limited sense that is generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/virtue-is-nearly-connected-with-the-heart-i-have-called-it/) [Anne-Louise-Germaine de Staël](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-louise-germaine-de-sta-l/) > [I cannot persuade myself that a beneficient and omnipotent God would have designedly created...that a cat should play with mice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-cannot-persuade-myself-that-a-beneficient-and-omnipotent-god-would/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Wherever the tree of beneficence takes root, it sends forth branches beyond the sky!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/wherever-the-tree-of-beneficence-takes-root-it-sends-forth-branches/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [While dwelling with pleasing satisfaction upon the superior excellence of our political institutions, let us not be unmindful that liberty is power; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/while-dwelling-with-pleasing-satisfaction-upon-the-superior/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-fruits-of-charity-are-joy-peace-and-mercy-charity-demands/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Every man who becomes heartily and understandingly a channel of the Divine beneficence is enriched through every league of his life. Perennial satisfaction springs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/every-man-who-becomes-heartily-and-understandingly-a-channel-of-the/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [The Angels are the dispensers and administrators of the Divine beneficence toward us. They regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-angels-are-the-dispensers-and-administrators-of-the-divine/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Advance warning of Katrina's path was wrested from mute Nature by meteorological calculations and satellite imagery. God told no one of His plans. Had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/advance-warning-of-katrina-s-path-was-wrested-from-mute-nature-by/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Browse all 58 Beneficence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneficence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do not understand a mind which sees a gracious beneficence in spending money to slay and maim human beings in almost unimaginable numbers and deprecates the expenditure of a smaller sum to patch up the ills of mankind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry S. 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