---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Difference is of the essence of humanity…"
description: "\"Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The ans..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png"
---

#  Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an…

![“Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.” quote by John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png)

> “Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.”

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human differences are natural and should be respected, not cause conflict.

**In simple terms:** Respect diversity to keep peace.

Key Takeaway

Embrace differences, avoid hatred.

Themes

diversity peace human rights conflict resolution equality

Mood

hopeful inspirational

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- education
- policy making
- community building
- intercultural dialogue

Key Concepts

inclusion human dignity social cohesion

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to respect diversity daily?
- How does respect prevent conflict?

A Different Perspective

Prejudice can persist despite ideals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Fundamental principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principles/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Human diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-diversity/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace and unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-and-unity/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Tolerance and respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance-and-respect/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) [Unity in diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity-in-diversity/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [“Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [Live with the objective of being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/live-with-the-objective-of-being-happy/)

[Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/)

> [In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/in-diversity-there-is-beauty-and-there-is-strength/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Difference is of the essence of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [How do we create a harmonious society out of so many kinds of people? The key is tolerance -- the one value that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/how-do-we-create-a-harmonious-society-out-of-so-many-kinds-of-people/)

[Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/)

> [But remember: All this talk of tolerance and diversity is basically just a way for one group of white people to pursue power over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-reynolds/but-remember-all-this-talk-of-tolerance-and-diversity-is-basically/)

[Glenn Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-reynolds/)

> [I am committed to the First Amendment principles of religious freedom, tolerance, and diversity. Whether Mormon, Methodist, Jewish, or Muslim, Americans should be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-am-committed-to-the-first-amendment-principles-of-religious-freedom/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/the-greater-the-diversity-the-greater-the-perfection/)

[Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/)

> [“Difference is the essence of extremity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-miller/difference-is-the-essence-of-extremity/)

Jennifer Miller

> [“To know the difference between essence (that which is helpful) and non-essence (that which is not helpful) is called wisdom (good judgement). One cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/to-know-the-difference-between-essence-that-which-is-helpful-and-non/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [And there is a difference between the essence of a Sacrament and its use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-chemnitz/and-there-is-a-difference-between-the-essence-of-a-sacrament-and-its/)

[Martin Chemnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-chemnitz/)

> [I want to know what the difference between the essence of a man and woman is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/i-want-to-know-what-the-difference-between-the-essence-of-a-man-and/)

[Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/)

> [“This point is often missed by evangelical feminists. They conclude that a difference in function necessarily involves a difference in essence; i.e., if men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/this-point-is-often-missed-by-evangelical-feminists-they-conclude/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [“I long for the day when people embrace our common humanity and respect diversity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-m-wiemer/i-long-for-the-day-when-people-embrace-our-common-humanity-and/)

[Liza M. Wiemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-m-wiemer/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

## More by John Hume

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/i-never-thought-in-terms-of-being-a-leader-i-thought-very-simply-in/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [In working class districts, you had several families living together in the one house, and it was very difficult to get a house, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-working-class-districts-you-had-several-families-living-together/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [All conflict is about difference; whether the difference is race religion, or nationality...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/all-conflict-is-about-difference-whether-the-difference-is-race/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [“You are the generation that will be leading in the new century and the new millennium, so the challenge is to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/you-are-the-generation-that-will-be-leading-in-the-new-century-and/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [Every child growing up will look to their parents, my mother and my father. My grandmother lived with us. I picked up quite a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/every-child-growing-up-will-look-to-their-parents-my-mother-and-my/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [The basis of peace and stability, in any society, has to be the fullest respect for the human rights of all its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/the-basis-of-peace-and-stability-in-any-society-has-to-be-the-fullest/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [In my opinion, what changed the situation eventually - and, of course, it took a lot of time to change it, things like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-my-opinion-what-changed-the-situation-eventually-and-of-course-it/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [“Difference is the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth, and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [I think that's not a question that one can answer accurately. I read a whole range of books, quite a lot of history at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/i-think-that-s-not-a-question-that-one-can-answer-accurately-i-read-a/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [That's the strategy that myself and my party have pursued and are pursuing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/that-s-the-strategy-that-myself-and-my-party-have-pursued-and-are/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [The violence had broken out in both sides, but our philosophy as a party was very, very clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/the-violence-had-broken-out-in-both-sides-but-our-philosophy-as-a/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [“We're much closer together in the world today than we were in the past. Given that it is a much smaller world, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/we-re-much-closer-together-in-the-world-today-than-we-were-in-the/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [They believed that Britain was in Ireland defending their own interests, therefore the Irish had the right to use violence to put them out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/they-believed-that-britain-was-in-ireland-defending-their-own/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [My father was a civil servant, fairly sort of middle ranking, low to middle ranking. He worked almost entirely in what was then called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/my-father-was-a-civil-servant-fairly-sort-of-middle-ranking-low-to/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

[Explore all 36 John Hume quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

## More Accidents quotes

> [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/)

[Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/)

> [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/)

[Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

> [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/)

[Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/)

> [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/)

[Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/)

> [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/)

[Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/)

> [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/)

[Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/)

> [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/)

[Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/)

> [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/)

[Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/)

> [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/)

[Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/)

> [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/)

[Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/)

> [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/)

[Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/)

> [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/)

[Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/)

> [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/)

[Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/)

[Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Hume"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accidents"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/john-hume-17639_accidents_difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity_1840551.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never…” — John Hume",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Hume",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Difference is of the essence of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/difference-is-of-the-essence-of-humanity-difference-is-an-accident-of/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
