Benefactors Quote by Jonathan Swift
“Ingratitude is amongst them a capital crime, as we read it to have been in some other countries: for they reason thus; that whoever makes ill-returns to his benefactor, must needs be a common enemy to the rest of the mankind, from where he has received no obligations and therefore such man is not fit to live.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: A Tale of a Tub by Jonathan Swift, 1704
Ingratitude is a grave moral failing, making the ungrateful a threat to society.
In simple terms: Ingratitude harms all.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate gratitude.
Themes
morality
gratitude
social cohesion
justice
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
moral
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family life
- community service
- workplace
- education
Key Concepts
philosophy
ethics
human behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we sometimes feel ungrateful?
- How can societies encourage gratitude?
A Different Perspective
People may act out of fear, not malice.
