"One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion"
- Simone de Beauvoir
About this Quote
This quote by Simone de Beauvoir speaks to the idea that our lives have value when we acknowledge the worth of the lives of others. This is done through acts of love, friendship, indignation, and compassion. Love is the acknowledgment of the value of another individual and the desire to be near them. Friendship is the acknowledgment of the worth of another person and the desire to be linked to them. Indignation is the acknowledgment of the worth of another person and the desire to defend them. Compassion is the acknowledgment of the value of another individual and the desire to assist them. By engaging in these acts, we are recognizing the worth of another person's life and, in turn, recognizing the worth of our own life.
"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"