Famous quote by Sydney J. Harris

Mobile Desktop
The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return
Like

"The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts: to return love for hate, to include the excluded, and to say, "I was wrong""

- Sydney J. Harris

About this Quote

This quote by Sydney J. Harris speaks to the difficulty of ethical acts. It suggests that physical and intellectual tasks are not as difficult as moral acts. The three moral acts discussed are returning love for hate, including the excluded, and confessing when one is wrong. These acts need a good deal of strength and nerve, as they include putting aside one's own sensations and desires in order to do what is right. It is easy to react to dislike with more hate, to omit those who are various, and to reject one's errors. Nevertheless, it takes a special kind of individual to do the opposite. To return love for hate, to include the omitted, and to confess when one is wrong are 3 of the most uphill struggles in the world.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Sydney J. Harris between September 14, 1917 and December 8, 1986. He/she was a famous Journalist from USA. The author also have 33 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: The biggest coward is a man who awakens a womans love with no intention of loving her - Bob Marley
Bob Marley
"The biggest coward is a man who awakens a woman’s love with no intention of loving her"
Bob Marley, Musician
Small: Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop - H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
"Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop"
H. L. Mencken, Writer
Small: Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible - Marion C. Garretty
Marion C. Garretty
"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible"
Marion C. Garretty, Poet
Small: He is not a lover who does not love forever - Euripides
Euripides
"He is not a lover who does not love forever"
Euripides, Poet
Small: I love to travel, but hate to arrive - Hernando Cortez
"I love to travel, but hate to arrive"
Hernando Cortez, Explorer
Small: The highest form of vanity is love of fame - George Santayana
George Santayana
"The highest form of vanity is love of fame"
George Santayana, Philosopher
Small: Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark
"Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding"
Louis Gerstner, Businessman
Small: To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance - Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance"
Oscar Wilde, Dramatist
Small: Its love that makes the world go round, my baby - Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
"Its love that makes the world go round, my baby"
Charles Dickens, Novelist
Small: People think love is an emotion. Love is good sense - Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
"People think love is an emotion. Love is good sense"
Ken Kesey, Author