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Animal welfare Quote by J.M. Coetzee

“Curious that a man as selfish as he should be offering himself to the service of dead dogs. There must be other, more productive ways of giving oneself to the world, or to an idea of the world... But there are other people to do these things - the animal welfare thing, the social rehabilitation…” quote by J.M. Coetzee
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““Curious that a man as selfish as he should be offering himself to the service of dead dogs. There must be other, more productive ways of giving oneself to the world, or to an idea of the world... But there are other people to do these things - the animal welfare thing, the social rehabilitation thing, even the Byron thing. He saves the honour of corpses because there is no one else stupid enough to do it.””

J.M. Coetzee

About This Quote

Source Interview excerpt

Criticizes self‑sacrifice in trivial causes, urging more meaningful contributions.

In simple terms: Question the value of certain altruistic acts.

Key Takeaway

Choose impactful service.

Themes

ethics altruism meaning purpose

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • volunteering
  • career choices
  • activism

Key Concepts

moral philosophy social responsibility value of work

Questions to Reflect On

  • What causes align with your skills?
  • How can you assess impact?
A Different Perspective

Some small acts still matter to beneficiaries.

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