Evil Quote by Rebecca West
““Goodness is adorable, and it is immortal. When it is trodden down into the earth it springs up again, and human beings scrabble in the dust to find the first green seedling of its return. The stock cannot survive save by the mutual kindness of men and women, of old and young, of state and individual. Hatred comes before love, and gives the hater strange and delicious pleasures, but its works are short-lived; the head is cut from the body before the time of natural death, the lie is told to frustrate the other rogue’s plan before it comes to fruit. Sooner or later society tires of making a mosaic of these evil fragments; and even if the rule of hatred lasts some centuries it occupies no place in real time, it is a hiatus in reality, and not the vastest material thefts, not world wide raids on mines and granaries, can give it substance.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Return of the Soldier, 1918 (attributed)??
Human kindness endures despite oppression; hatred is fleeting and ultimately ineffective.
In simple terms: Kindness survives; hatred fails.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate compassion, reject hatred.
Themes
humanity
kindness
hatred
society
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- community building
- ethical leadership
Key Concepts
morality
resilience
social cohesion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster lasting kindness?
- What limits does hatred have?
A Different Perspective
Kindness alone may not solve structural injustices.
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