"Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another"
- Joseph Addison
About this Quote
This quote by Joseph Addison speaks to the inherent suffering of humanity, and how we typically make it worse by our own actions. He recommends that life is currently full of pain and sorrow, and yet we continue to contribute to it by our mistreatment of each other. This could refer to anything from physical violence to emotional abuse, and even the method we talk about each other. Addison is suggesting that we should be more mindful of our actions and how they can affect others, and that we need to strive to be kinder to one another in order to reduce the suffering on the planet. By doing this, we can help to reduce the typical disaster of humankind and produce a more peaceful and harmonious world.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"