Skip to content

Chiefs Quote by Reinhold Niebuhr

“The chief source of man's inhumanity to man seems to be the tribal limits of his sense of obligation to other men.” quote by Reinhold Niebuhr
Download Open image
“The chief source of man's inhumanity to man seems to be the tribal limits of his sense of obligation to other men.”

Reinhold Niebuhr

About This Quote

Source Book: Moral Man and Immoral Society, Reinhold Niebuhr, 1932

Human cruelty often stems from limited empathy confined to one's own group.

In simple terms: Tribal loyalty blinds us to broader moral duties.

Key Takeaway

Expand empathy beyond immediate circles.

Themes

ethics humanity social responsibility

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • community service
  • global humanitarian work
  • diverse teamwork

Key Concepts

moral philosophy in‑group bias obligation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies foster broader obligations?
  • What policies encourage cross‑group empathy?
A Different Perspective

Overcoming deep‑seated biases is challenging and slow.

4.1 out of 5 (8 ratings)

More by Reinhold Niebuhr

Explore all 200 Reinhold Niebuhr quotes

More Chiefs quotes

Browse all 1,428 Chiefs quotes