Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. Extract from 'Memories of childhood and youth.'

Quote by Albert Schweitzer

Topics: Cruelty Quotes, Habit Quotes, Instinct Quotes, Memory Quotes, Men Quotes

The African is my brother but he is my younger brother by several centuries.

The African is my brother but he is my younger brother by several centuries.

Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer...

Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer...

Our degeneration, when it is traced back to its origin in our view of the...

Our degeneration, when it is traced back to its origin in our view of the...

It is a man's sympathy with all creatures that first makes him truly a man.

It is a man's sympathy with all creatures that first makes him truly a man.

Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying...

Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying...

Because I have confidence in the power of truths and of spirit, I believe in...

Because I have confidence in the power of truths and of spirit, I believe in...

Serious illness doesn't bother me for long because I am too inhospitable a host.

Serious illness doesn't bother me for long because I am too inhospitable a host.

No one has ever come back from the other world. I can't console you, but...

No one has ever come back from the other world. I can't console you, but...

Through the power which we win over the forces of nature we get also a...

Through the power which we win over the forces of nature we get also a...

Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and...

Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and...

The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists...

The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists...

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst...

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst...

One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are...

One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are...

Everything deep is also simple and can be reproduced simply as long as its reference...

Everything deep is also simple and can be reproduced simply as long as its reference...

Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.

Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.

As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as...

As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as...

Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation.

Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation.

I wanted to be a doctor that I might be able to work without having...

I wanted to be a doctor that I might be able to work without having...

A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life...

A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life...

The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but...

The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but...