Animal Quote by John Newton
“So long as men are compassionate to such a degree that they cannot hear a fly struggling in a spider's web without emotion it can never be reasonably maintained that it is their natural impulse to wound and kill the dumb animals, or to butcher one another in what is called the field of honour.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Thoughts Upon the Death of the Rev. John Newton, 1765
Compassion for even the smallest suffering shows that harming others is not a natural instinct.
In simple terms: Compassion reveals we aren't naturally violent.
Key Takeaway
Recognize empathy as a guide.
Themes
compassion
violence
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- animal welfare
- conflict resolution
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
ethics
empathy
natural impulse
Questions to Reflect On
- How does empathy shape moral choices?
- Can compassion be cultivated?
A Different Perspective
Human nature also includes aggression; context matters.
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
