"Most people have no imagination. If they could imagine the sufferings of others, they would not make them suffer so. What separated a German mother from a French mother?"
- Ernst Toller
About this Quote
This quote by Ernst Toller speaks with the lack of empathy and imagination that many people have. He suggests that if individuals had the ability to think of the suffering of others, they would not trigger them to suffer. He then positions the concern of what separates a German mom from a French mother. This concern suggests that the suffering of one mother is no different than the suffering of another, despite nationality. Toller is recommending that people must be more knowledgeable about the suffering of others, no matter their background, and that this awareness ought to cause more compassion and understanding. He is also suggesting that people must be more imaginative and be able to put themselves in the shoes of others in order to understand their suffering. This quote talks to the importance of empathy and understanding in order to create a more thoughtful world.