Nature of man Quote by René Girard
““Why does Jesus regard the Father and himself as the best model for all humans? Because neither the Father nor the Son desires greedily, egotistically. God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and he sends his rain on the just and on the unjust." God gives to us without counting, without marking the least difference between us. He lets the weeds grow with the wheat until the time of harvest. If we imitate the detached generosity of God, then the trap of mimetic rivalries will never close over us. This is why Jesus says also, "Ask, and it will be given to you…””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Scapegoat, René Girard, 1982
God’s impartial generosity shows that true freedom comes from giving without expectation, transcending selfish competition.
In simple terms: Give freely, like God, to avoid rivalry.
Key Takeaway
Embrace selfless giving.
Themes
generosity
spirituality
competition
ethics
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- community service
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
- leadership
- faith practice
Key Concepts
mimetic theory
detached generosity
divine impartiality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice detached generosity daily?
- What rivalries could be transformed by selfless giving?
A Different Perspective
Human nature often defaults to self‑interest, making generosity hard to sustain.
